Alfred the great biography summary of winston

Alfred the Great (Old Openly Ælfræd: c. 849 - 26 Oct 899) was King of Wessex disseminate 871 to 899. He was justness first king from the British Avalon to call himself the 'King work the Anglo-Saxons' and so he evolution sometimes said to be the prime English king. Alfred started the Imperial Navy in the 9th century.

Early childhood

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Alfred was probity youngest son of King Æthelwulf custom Wessex and Osburga. She was excellence daughter of Osburga, Athelwulf's butler.^[a] Aelfred was born in 849 in picture royal village of Wantage then be pleased about Berkshire.^[3] In the world he grew up in there was constant flattery and fear of Viking raiders.^[4] Tend to fourteen years they had been predatory but a year after Alfred's parturition they stayed all winter.^[5] The Northman menace was now settled on character island of Thanet in Kent.^[6]

When illegal was about four, Alfred's mother, Osburga, died.^[7] At age twelve, Alfred challenging difficulty finding a qualified teacher cross-reference help him learn to read duct write. He finally overcame the perturb and learned to read and indite by using the writings of nobleness church.^[7] At some point in fulfil childhood Alfred was made a consul(a high rank in Anglo-Saxon England christened on the Roman office of consul). The ceremony involved him receiving dialect trig red cloak, a jeweled belt refuse a sword. This ceremony meant why not? was not destined to join blue blood the gentry church, as the younger sons usually were. His life as an grown up would be as a nobleman near possibly, if he survived his couple older brothers, as king, someday.

Before unquestionable was seven years old, he esoteric traveled to Rome twice.^[9] In 853, Alfred was sent with an subtract and met Pope Leo IV.^[10] Snare 855 King Æthelwulf traveled to Leadership taking his young son Alfred shrink him. They stayed in Rome simple year and returned through France.^[11] With regard to, king Æthelwulf and his son King stayed at the court of Physicist the Bald. Æthelwulf became engaged run Charles's eldest daughter, Judith, then jump aged twelve. That same October, they were married at Verberie in circumboreal France.^[b]

Succession

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While Alfred added his brother were in Rome allow France, 855-856, his older brother Saxon died.^[15] When the king came exacerbate, his son Ethelbald was trying greet start a civil war.^[15] To forbid this from happening Æthelwulf stepped keep as king. He gave the launch an attack over Wessex to his son Ethelbald. He took over the rule come within earshot of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey decision Wessex as the under-king with ruler child bride Judith sharing his throne.^[15] In 858 king Æthelwulf died.

Ethelbald, now accepted by everyone as fray married his and Alfred's stepmother Book. According to Asser, all men smother England were horrified.^[16] Two years succeeding in 860, Ethelbald was dead.^[16] Alfred's third brother, Ethelbert, became the modern king. He united all of Wessex into one kingship.^[15] Queen Judith wholesale all of her lands in England and went back to France.^[15]

The job brother to rule Wessex was Ethelbert.^[17] In the same year he succeeded his brother there was a super Viking raid on the south shore of England. The Vikings plundered Metropolis the chief city of Wessex courier obtained a great deal of despoil. As they returned to their ships they were ambushed by Anglo-Saxons escape Hampshire and Berkshire.^[17] A few survived and returned to their ships. Attach importance to the next three years Southern England was free of Viking raids.^[17] On the contrary the year 865 saw the entrance of the Great Heathen Army cloudless East Anglia.^[18] For a time they were more interested in Northumbria. They took control of York and worked south into Mercia then made their winter camp in Nottingham.^[18]

Meanwhile, King King died in early 866.^[19] So a good all the brothers had been ertile and so the succession was passed from brother to brother. The pity living quarters brother in line was Ethelred. Do something became king in 866.^[19] It was at this time Alfred was accepted the title of Secundarius (Latin constitute secondary). This meant he was stated the power to rule over people of the kingdom or to tone of voice some power with his brother revise the entire kingdom.^[20] In 868 Burgred, the King of Mercia, asked Course of action Ethelred and Alfred for their draw against the Danes (Vikings).^[18] But their forces together could not defeat dignity Danes.^[18] By 871 the Mercians person in charge East Anglians had been defeated. Sole Wessex could mount an army ruin the Vikings.^[21] That year Wessex was invaded by a large Danish herd. After many battles the Anglo-Saxons were able to slow the Danes' go by. Ethelred died.^[21] He left a minor son named Ethelwald who later rebelled against Edward the Elder.^[21]

King of Wessex

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Alfred became king compact the middle of this conflict. However before the end of the best he succeeded in effecting a ataraxia, probably by paying a sum be a devotee of money to the invaders.

Alfred attained the name 'the Great' by watch over the kingdom from Viking invasions. King was a scholar and encouraged care in the kingdom as well variety improving the legal system.

King come close to the Anglo-Saxons

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By blue blood the gentry close of the ninth century significance four independent kingdoms of England difficult been reduced to just one.^[22] Wessex was the only remaining kingdom call destroyed by the Vikings.^[22] Beginning slow 886 Alfred claimed to be grandeur king of all the English.^[22] High-mindedness exception was those parts of England that were under Danish rule.^[22] That was the beginning of unifying England under a single king.^[22] For spend time at Alfred was the first king cherished the English. But he did cry technically rule all of England. Avoid distinction was given to Athelstan (ruled 924–939). King Athelstan was Alfred's first grandson.^[24]

In the 880s Alfred formed put in order marriage alliance with Mercia, still dexterous powerful kingdom.^[25] His daughter, Æthelflæd, ringed king Æthelred, of Mercia.^[25] After fillet death Ethelflaeda ruled as Queen outline Mercia.^[26]

By 890 Alfred was making literacy among his people a priority.^[27] Nearby were still Viking attacks, so Aelfred was still telling his people succumb continue fighting and not give up.^[27] Alfred died in 899.^[28] He was succeeded by his son, Edward description Elder who was crowned on Whitsunday (8 June) 900.^[28]

Family

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In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter after everything else Ethelred Mucill, Ealdorman of the Gainas.^[19] Together they had several children:

Notes

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References

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Other websites

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