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Oat Cakes After escaping a surprise attack from Guthrum at Chippenham, legend has Alfred fleeing to the marshes of Athelney in Somerset. Navy Alfred organised the first permanent fleet of warships (navy), to engage Viking longboats. The inhabitants provided a fyrd (army) in times of conflict. Vikings controlled the north and east, Saxons the south and west, dividing England into territories.īurghs Alfred built 33 burghs (fortified towns) around England to protect them against the Vikings. This established a long boundary line between the river Thames and the river Tees. There were 10 Anglo-Saxon Bretwaldas.ĭanelaw Alfred secured London from the Danes in 886, and formalised the Danelaw (Dane's law) with their leader, Guthrum. This means as king he had over-lordship of some or all other kingdoms, and therefore ruler of Britain. Monks recorded events of the time in manuscripts, which formed the first edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.īretwalda Alfred was a Bretwalda, 'Britain Ruler'. Literacy Alfred focused on education, literacy and record keeping. Interesting Facts About King Alfred the Great Edward the Elder, Alfred's son accedes him. His nephew, Aethelwold rebels in a failed attempt to sieze the throne. His navy captured 2 Viking ships, and Alfred had the occupants hanged in Winchester.Ĩ99 Alfred dies and is buried at Winchester. Haesten and his army march north, and besiege Chester.Ĩ96 Alfred's new navy wins a skirmish against 6 Viking ships, who were attacking the coastline. Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, begins Alfred's biography "The Life of King Alfred". Soon he is besieged and flees into Wales and then Northumbria. Haesten is forced to flee again and camps in Chester's fortified ruin.
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Haesten moves west, and is met by Aethelred of Mercia, West Saxons and Welsh warriors at Buttington. King Alfred the Great positions his army in the Wealden Forest.Ĩ93 Haesten withdraws to Benfleet after local raiding, but the fort is recaptured by Alfred. Alfred is proclaimed "King of all the English".Ĩ91 Alfred begins to compile the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.Ĩ92 New Viking raiders arrive in the Thames, led by Haesten. Alfred defeats the Guthrum and the Great Heathen army at the Battle of Edington.Ĩ85 Rochester is attacked by Vikings, but Alfred's new burh and local fyrd successfully defend it.Ĩ86 Alfred agrees to the Danelaw with Guthrum, after recapturing London. There he rallies a new Saxon army from the fyrds at Egbert's Stone. Viking leader Halfdan Ragnarsson returns to York (Jorvik), and rebuilds it.Ĩ78 Alfred flees from a surprise attack at Chippenham by Guthrum, into the marshes of Athelney, Somerset. Half flee to Exeter to besiege the town, while the other half flee on ships to Swanage, but are lost in a storm. Alfred's on, Edward, is born.Ĩ76 The Great Summer Army, led by Guthrum captures Wareham, and joins a second force at Poole Harbour. Aethelred dies weeks later from his wounds. At the Battle of Ashdown, he is saved by his late-arriving brother, King Aethelred I, as he clashes with the main Viking force. However, Alfred becomes ill with an unknown stomach complaint, which would continue to affect him for years to come.Ĩ69 Alfred's daughter, Aethelflaed, is born.Ĩ71 Alfred commands 5 battles against the Danes. He returns with his father.Ĩ68 Alfred marries Ealhswith of Mercia, a match to unite Wessex and Mercia. 849 Alfred is born in Wantage, Oxfordshire, to Aethelwulf of Wessex and Osburh.Ĩ53 Alfred is sent on a pilgrimage to Rome, at 4 years old and stays for 3 years.