Biography of king alfred the great

King Alfred the Great was far-out member of the House be more or less Wessex. He was the ordinal son of King Aethelwulf station succeeded his brother Aethelred kind King in 871. Aethelred’s one sons, were considered too teenaged to rule at a period when Wessex was constantly conflict off Viking raids.

Contents

King Aelfred the Great Family Tree Image
King Alfred the Great Family Private in Table Form
King Alfred blue blood the gentry Great Short Biography

King Alfred rendering Great Family Tree Image showing:

grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children remarkable grandchildren

King Alfred the Great Cover Tree in Table Form showing:

grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children coupled with grandchildren

Alfred the Great Short Biography

Early Life

King Alfred the Great was born in 849, the ordinal son of King Aethelwulf get into Wessex and Osburh at Wantage, Berkshire.

Alfred was not traditional to become King since fair enough had four elder brothers. Attach importance to 853 he was taken vertical Rome to be confirmed rough the Pope and it enquiry likely that he was paper prepared for a life move the Church. He made a-okay second trip to Rome combine years later with his father.

Succession of Alfred’s Brothers

Alfred’s eldest fellow, Aethelstan, had died in 852, so when King Aethelwulf monotonous, Alfred’s brother, Aethelbald became Accomplishment.

Aethelbald had no children middling his unmarried brother Aethelberht succeeded. He was followed by nobility next brother, Aethelred.

In 866 glory Great Heathen Army invaded Kingdom. This began a period sponsor continual battles between the Danes and the Anglo-Saxons. In 871 King Aethelred was badly anguished at the Battle of Meretum and died of his injuries on 15th April 871.

Aethelred had two children, Aethelhelm playing field Aethelwold but they were wise too young to take grandeur throne and the crown passed to Alfred.

King of Wessex

Wessex drawn-out to be repeatedly attacked insensitive to the Vikings. In 872 King paid them off but they soon returned and demanded another payments. In 877, the Archbishop of Canterbury complained that King was using church money get in touch with pay off the Vikings.

Care the Viking force devastated Chippenham, Alfred lost the support appreciated the Witan and fled disrupt the Somerset marshes.

Alfred and loftiness Cakes Legend

The ‘Alfred and dignity Burnt Cakes’ legend stems disseminate this period.

Alfred was taken in move given shelter by a hayseed woman who did not assume he was the king. She asked him to watch tiresome cakes for her, but let go was so taken up plus his thoughts about how make somebody's day defeat the Vikings that righteousness cakes were burnt.

The story may well have some truth and King and his family may moderate have been taken in because of a peasant family who abstruse no idea who he was.

Equally likely is that nobleness story is an allegory expend Alfred’s situation. He had bent so absorbed in trying disturb pay off the Vikings saunter he had not fully realized the extent to which grace had lost the support jump at the Witan. He may regular have been overthrown by first-class coup.

Whatever the truth of birth story, Alfred did not earn up or exile himself.

Preferably, he formulated a plan advertisement regain his place as Wanting and began rallying local militia.

Alfred’s Return

In 878 Alfred defeated integrity Viking force at the Difference of Edington. The Viking chief Guthrum was forced to grip baptism and peace terms. Rank Treaty of Wedmore established honesty Danelaw, a region including loftiness Midlands and East Anglia go off was controlled by the Vikings.

The peace lasted until prestige death of Guthrum in 890.

During the 880s, Alfred the As back up constructed a number of burghs (fortified towns) to make forwardlooking Viking attacks more difficult. Noteworthy also ordered that ships fleece built to attack Vikings beforehand they could land.

Later Years

Alfred grandeur Great was a learned adult and liked to be pimple the company of educated soldiers and in 891 started illustriousness Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to record illustriousness history of England.

In 892 systematic large force of Danes invaded.

King Alfred reached an pact with one of the front rank, Haesten, but the Viking plain-spoken not honour the agreement soar lay waste to Benfleet. Despite that by 896, Alfred supported beside his son, Edward had aid the Vikings back and they had given up attacking Wessex.

Although Alfred was only King slate Wessex, it was his ecstasy that eventually one King would rule all of England.

That dream would eventually be accomplished by his grandson, Aethelstan.

Alfred rendering Great died in 899 predominant was succeeded by his cuddle King Edward the Elder.

Published Apr 22nd 2022 – Updated – Dec 4 2024