Alfred

Lore & Background

Alfred's path to the throne began with a childhood marked by loss; both parents died while he was young, and three older brothers—Æthelbald, Æthelberht, and Æthelred—reigned before him. In 853, at age four or five, he traveled to Rome where Pope Leo IV anointed him, though this was not a coronation for the Wessex throne as succession was unforeseen with three living elder brothers. His mother, Osburh, once offered a book of English poetry to whichever son memorized it first; Alfred won but could not read until age 12 due to his mother's early death. By 865, at age 16, he entered public life as 'secundarius', a recognized successor alongside his brother Æthelred. In 878, after years of fighting the Great Heathen Army, Alfred secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington, forcing Viking leader Guthrum to convert to Christianity and agreeing to divide England between Anglo-Saxon territory and the Danelaw.

In Their Own Story

The year 871 marked a turning point when Alfred ascended the throne at age 23. In 868, he fought beside Æthelred in a failed attempt to stop Ivar the Boneless's Great Heathen Army from entering Mercia. By 871 alone, nine engagements were fought against the Danes as they moved through his homeland. The decisive moment came in 878 at Edington, where Alfred won a crushing victory that halted the Viking conquest. Following this, he oversaw Guthrum's conversion and began styling himself 'King of the Anglo-Saxons' in 886 after reclaiming London. His court school educated nobles and commoners in both English and Latin, while his legal and military reforms improved life for his people.

Reader's Guide

To understand Alfred's impact, note his specific achievements recorded by the scholar Asser: he established a court school for education in English and Latin, reformed the legal system, and restructured the military. He is the only native-born English monarch to receive the epithet 'the Great', popularized from the 16th century though first used in the 13th. His reign saw the transition from King of Wessex (871–886) to King of the Anglo-Saxons (886–899). Key dates include his birth c. 849, accession in April 871, the victory at Edington in 878, and his death on 26 October 899. His legacy includes the division of England into Anglo-Saxon lands and the Viking-ruled Danelaw, which comprised Scandinavian York, the north-east Midlands, and East Anglia.

Did You Know?

• Alfred was the first West Saxon king to be succeeded by his son, establishing a lasting dynasty after Ecgberht.
• He won a beautifully decorated book of English poetry as a child prize but did not learn to read until age 12.
• In 853, Pope Leo IV anointed Alfred in Rome, though he was not crowned king at that time due to having three living elder brothers.
• The victory at the Battle of Edington in 878 forced Viking leader Guthrum to convert to Christianity.
• Alfred is the only native-born English monarch historically labeled as 'the Great'.