Alfred the Great (redirected from Ælfred the Great)

Alfred

 known as Alfred the Great

(born 849—died 899) King of Wessex (871–99) in southwestern England. He joined his brother Ethelred I in confronting a Danish army in Mercia (868). Succeeding his brother as king, Alfred fought the Danes in Wessex in 871 and again in 878, when he was the only West Saxon leader to refuse to submit to their authority and was driven from the kingdom to the island of Athelney. He defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington (878) and saved Kent from another Danish invasion in 885. The next year he took the offensive and captured London, a success that brought all the English not under Danish rule to accept him as king. The conquest of the Danelaw by his successors was enabled by his strategy, which included the construction of forts and a naval fleet and the reformation of the army. Alfred drew up an important code of laws (see Anglo-Saxon law) and promoted literacy and learning, personally translating Latin works by Boethius, Pope Gregory I, and St. Augustine of Hippo into Anglo-Saxon. The compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was begun under his reign.

---

Alfred the Great

849--99, king of Wessex (871--99) and overlord of England, who defeated the Danes and encouraged learning and writing in English

---

Alfred the Great 

Born circa 849; died circa 900. King of Wessex from 871.

Under Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were consolidated around Wessex, the army was reorganized, a considerable fleet was built, and a number of fortresses were erected. As a result of the stubborn struggle against the Danes, Alfred the Great acquired authority over southwestern England about 886. The code of law that was compiled under him was the first all-English collection of laws. Making use of earlier Anglo-Saxon laws, Alfred the Great incorporated into them new decrees specifically designed to strengthen the relations of the vassalage and large land-holdings. Under Alfred measures were taken to develop education and culture. The beginning of the compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is usually attributed to the time of Alfred the Great.

REFERENCES

Plummer, C. The Life and Times of Alfred the Great. Oxford, 1902.
Duckett, E. S. Alfred the Great and His England. London, 1957.