Alfred The Great

King of Wessex, 871-899, a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. He prevented England from being conquered by the Danish and promoted literature, learning, and literacy - helping to begin an artistic renaissance that flourished for two centuries. Our knowledge of him is known from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, begun during his reign c. 890, and the biography written by his friend and teacher Asser. Alfred succeeded to the throne in 871 and fought off invading Danes before being forced to flee in 877. He returned to drive the invaders from his kingdom. Alfred also established the first English fleet and organized a chain of fortified towns on the southern coasts for protection.

Our impression of King Alfred is largely gained from two sources: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and the biography written by his friend and teacher Asser. Bom in Wantage in 849, Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex in 871 and had several encounters with invading Danish forces before whom he was forced to flee to Athelney in the remote western part of Wessex in 877. He returned to drive the invaders from his kingdom and force the Danelaw division upon them. Alfred consolidated his victory by establishing the first English fleet and organizing the chain of fortified burh towns around the southern coast to protect the civilian population. The king was a considerable scholar and translated works such as the Curia Pastoralis from Latin into the vernacular language. He died in 899. The connections between Wessex and Carolingia, together with the demise of the Danish threat in Alfred’s time, helped to initiate the artistic renaissance centred on Winchester that flourished for two centuries.