9/16/2023 0 Comments Alfred king of wessex![]() It was probably the quality of the West Saxon resistance that discouraged Danish attacks for five years. After an unsuccessful battle at Wilton he made peace. Aethelred died in 871 and Alfred succeeded him. Late in 871, the Danes invaded Wessex, and Aethelred and Alfred fought several battles with them. In this year Alfred married Ealhswith, descended through her mother from Mercian kings. The Danes refused to give battle, and peace was made. He first appeared on active service in 868, when he and his brother, King Aethelred (Ethelred) I, went to help Burgred of Mercia (the kingdom between the Thames and the Humber) against a great Danish army that had landed in East Anglia in 865 and taken possession of Northumbria in 867. He probably received the education in military arts normal for a young man of rank. Alfred had no opportunity to acquire the education he sought, however, until much later in life. It is possible also that he was aware of and admired the great Frankish king Charlemagne, who had at the beginning of the century revived learning in his realm. ![]() His mother early aroused his interest in English poetry, and from his boyhood he also hankered after Latin learning, possibly stimulated by visits to Rome in 853 and 855. Perhaps a scholar's life would have contented him. When he was born, it must have seemed unlikely that Alfred would become king, since he had four older brothers he said that he never desired royal power. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, c. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Also spelled AELFRED, byname ALFRED THE GREAT king of Wessex (871-899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |