![]() ![]() ![]() The most famous recounts that when he was hiding from the Vikings in the Somerset Levels an old woman asked Alfred to watch her cakes baking but he was distracted and the cakes got burned. There are many legends about King Alfred.The writing of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also commenced during his reign. Alfred instructed Bishop Asser to write his biography.He was illiterate (couldn’t read or write) until he was 12.Alfred was the first English king to write books.Alfred believed that all free born English boys should receive an education and he set up a school at his court to educate his sons, as well as those of the nobles and others of lesser birth.Alfred's fortified towns or burhs formed the basis of the English system of boroughs and shires.In 886 he recaptured London and set about renovating the city.After defeating Guthrum the Dane, Alfred made him convert to Christianity and then adopted Guthrum as his foster son.In 879 Alfred won a decisive victory against the Vikings at Edington.In 870 Alfred and his brother Aethelred fought nine battles against the Vikings.Wessex was the only Anglo-Saxon kingdom to hold out against the Vikings. By 870 Northumberland, East Anglia and Mercia has all fallen to the Vikings.As a boy of four he accompanied his father Aethelwulf on a pilgrimage to Rome.He had four older brothers who all ruled as king before he did.Alfred was born in 849 at the royal palace in Wantage. ![]() Known as a just and fair ruler, Alfred is the only English King to have earned the title ‘ the Great’. He was a keen champion of education and translated important texts from Latin into English. He also introduced wide-ranging reforms including defence measures, reform of the law and of coinage. Despite overwhelming odds he successfully defended his kingdom, Wessex, against the Vikings. Alfred the Great (849-899) was the most famous of the Anglo-Saxon kings. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |