why was king alfred so great

 

King Alfred is the only English King to have ever been called “Great.” He rose from exile and isolation to overthrow Viking slave masters, fortify his nation, unite his people, provide an early example of an accessible Christian education, and have his vision for society taken to the ends of the earth. A: Military and intellectual activities were in themselves sufficient to have established Alfred’s reputation, but what really made him stand out to succeeding generations was the fact that his Welsh adviser Asser wrote a biography of the king in 893. Alfred the Great was recently voted one of the top 10 historical figures you’re most interested in at the moment in our History Hot 100 poll. The chronicle also helped in the formation of an English identity, with the events occurring in relation to the kingdom being recorded in an innovative manner. This led to greater employment opportunities and a general boom in the production of manuscripts and books. Here are some sentence starters to help you: King Alfred had lots of qualities that made people think he was “great”. Monopoly was Kit's favorite game, it was what she played when she was bored or just wanted to feel happier for a little while. All feedback appreciated. Tonight I will talk about the first Standard English, a King’s English not a Queen’s English, because it was the English of King Alfred. This led to an economic boost that was accentuated by Alfred’s decision to introduce the half-penny to the English currency. His father was King Aethelwulf of Wessex. Alfred the Great (848/9 – 26 October 899) was king of the West Saxons from 871 to c. 886 and king of the Anglo-Saxons from c. 886 to 899. So — alongside the refortification of his kingdom — he also wanted to improve literacy rates and spread the word of God. After the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia had fallen to the Vikings, Wessex under Alfred was the only surviving Anglo-Saxon province. Further Viking threats were kept at bay by a reorganisation of military service and pa… Create one now! He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf, who died when Alfred was young.Three of Alfred's brothers, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, reigned in turn before him. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. The general idea was that all people would be within 24 hours walk from a buhr, a fortified town which would be appropriately equipped to defend itself against Viking raids. Photo by Charles Eamer Kempe.CC BY 3.0 Thinking too much of his problems, the cakes burnt and Alfred was roundly chastised by the woman whose house he was forced to … Burhred sent a message to Alfred and Aethelred, appealing for help in the fight. During the Battle of Ashdown in 871, Alfred — who wasn’t yet king — led the Saxons to victory as the deputy commander of his brother’s army. 1 J.H. During the remaining decades of his life, the King of Wessex focused on building up his defenses, for he knew that the Viking forces were far from vanquished. There are reasons for that and these reasons lie not only in his campaigns against the Vikings and the establishing of the navy but also much deeper, in the reforms Alfred passed in his lands that enabled the populace to educate themselves. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don’t already have one. As a result of this it simplified the process of taxation, thus allowing Alfred to increase spending and fund his reforms. You might say, why is that an interesting fact about … He is currently director of policy at the Centre for Social Justice ...read more. Philip listened to their ideas and read their correspondence. ?? What’s more, new roads connecting the cities of Alfred’s kingdom were constructed so that each defensive fort could send news, supplies, or reinforcements to their closest ally. This, together with other criteria like the restructuring of dioceses, created a better organisation and increased the status of the church. Explore, If you have a story to tell, knowledge to share, or a perspective to offer — welcome home. He built up legal structures for governance and even advanced the Christian religion within the Vikings and the Danelaw. Alfred was born in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex which was located in the southwest of England. the stone rings situated across the countryside, ever used them for ritual purposes- they are known to have conducted their own ritual constructions. His statue stands at the heart of a number of southern English towns – Wantage, where he was born over a thousand years ago; Winchester, where he was buried; Pewsey and Shaftesbury, where he … Check your inboxMedium sent you an email at to complete your subscription. Q: Why is King Alfred significant? Even as a young prince, he spent much of his time absorbing biblical teachings and Anglo-Saxon poetry. What Did Charlemagne Do While In Power As King? To send this article to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. He also received communication from governors and viceroys as well as used their ideas to balance up opinions and he used them formulate his own ideas. These changes secured William's divine control by bolstering his royal authority, through the spread of his influence and a supporting partnership with the church. However that April King Aethelred died at just 22 years old, and Alfred became king. Sign up to view the whole essay and download the PDF for anytime access on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Tough to say. Alfred in The Last Kingdom is based on the real King Alfred - also know as Alfred the Great, who was reported to have a painful, mystery illness. Alfred recognized that as an island, England needed a navy. The Dark Ages don’t get much attention, however. Alfred 'The Great', King of Wessex between the years 871-899, is often cited and widely considered as 'one of the greatest and noblest monarchs England has ever had'1. Dr Alex Burghart is a historian specialising in the Anglo-Saxon period who previously lectured at King’s College London. Alfred's idea of fairness and justice in the legal system regardless of wealth or power is one that still survives today (in theory) and his intelligence in the devising of the Danelaw was successful in dissuading potential invaders from the continent until many years after his death. The Law Code of King Alfred the Great. Search for your essay title... What was the impact of the Norman Conquest. Alfred is the only one of all the English kings and queens to be known as “the Great". The refortification of Wessex and the promotion of literacy and Christianity were his most significant achievements. Interested in fiction, history, philosophy, politics, crime, culture. Alfred is predominantly noted for both; his successful defence of Wessex against the Danish Vikings as well as the creation of the Danelaw following Alfred's victory in the Battle of Edington. He is the only English monarch to be officially described as ‘great’. Though Alfred’s defeat of the Viking army should not be ignored, his most admirable feats lay outside his military victories. King Alfred the Great is the most famous and celebrated of all Anglo-Saxon kings. ...read more. Take a look. His schools produced highly educated individuals capable of organising the country, translations developed pride, and his chronicle recorded it all for future generations to learn from and observe. And in some cases, they even built upon the ancient hill-forts from the Iron Age. This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Other Historical Periods section. Alfred was forced to ‘buy off’ the Vikings and make peace in order to … GCSE resources with teacher and student feedback, AS and A Level resources with teacher and student feedback, International Baccalaureate resources with teacher and student feedback, University resources with teacher and student feedback. He wasn't just a clever strategist, his impact on English culture was great. He became the King of Wessex in 871 at the age of 21. Alfred and Aethelred took their troops to Nottingham and began a siege. He designed ships that were more durable than the Viking ships and established the English navy. With these new measures, Wessex was transformed under Alfred’s rule and experienced a golden age of Anglo-Saxon culture. When Alfred became King of Wessex in 871, the Saxons were in the midst of a bloody conflict with the Viking invaders. Alfred certainly gave much to society while taking little, the re-organisation of the army and navy as well as the formation of buhrs illustrates Alfred's ability to manage large projects so as to protect his people. Does he deserve it? Write on Medium. He had four older brothers, however, so it was doubtful that he would ever be king. After ascending the throne, Alfred spent several years fighting Viking invasions. King Alfred is the only king in English history to be deemed worthy of the title of ’the Great’. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Alfred 'The Great', King of Wessex between the years 871-899, is often cited and widely considered as 'one of the greatest and noblest monarchs England has ever had'1. In addition to building a new fleet made up of a hundred ships, he also revolutionized the fyrds (or militias) by replacing the untrained peasants with professional soldiers. But this wasn’t his only military success. The fact that Alfred managed to defeat Guthrum's organised and confident army after their successful conquest of nearby Chippenham, is somewhat remarkable, especially considering that his force consisted of mere untrained locals. After gaining gathering local militia from the surrounding regions of Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire, Alfred defeated Guthrum the Old and thus signed a treaty outlining the Danelaw and (in theory) securing both Wessex and Mercia for the Anglo-Saxons. When Alfred became King of Wessex in 871, the Saxons were in the midst of a bloody conflict with the Viking invaders. He may have earned this title in part by defending his kingdom against the Vikings and for his efforts in improving education. Historians now regard the Battle of Edington as Aflred’s greatest military victory. © 2003 - 2015 Marked by Teachers. Although the single achievements of Alfred may not suffice to call him 'great', a combination of the military and social effects upon his kingdom leading to it's security and rapid cultural development surely results in Alfred 'the Great', being deservedly considered 'Great'. Why was Alfred sick on The Last Kingdom? Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. For Alfred to successfully organise something so complex with very basic methods of communication and organisation must have taken very delicate planning, implementation and intelligence, another running theme in Alfred's accomplishments. Ready to teach. Our understanding of the literary achievements of King Alfred depends very much upon what we believe about his early education. Alfred was forced to flee and took refuge at a fortified base in the marshlands of Somerset. Despite overwhelming odds he successfully defended his kingdom, Wessex, against the Vikings. After the death of Alfred's brother King Ethelred in April 871 the Vikings pushed forward through Mercia and into Wessex, eventually forcing Alfred to retreat 'with a small force into the wilderness'2. Yet the most impressive aspect of Alfred’s reign came after the Battle of Edington. From then on, Alfred … What little cohesion existed amongst Boudica's forces was broken before contact by a. Alfred also financially assisted himself with this idea, by building permanently defended settlements it attracted trade and a small level of urbanisation. Said laws were the largest and most detailed legal code the kingdom had ever seen. Arguable his most noteworthy social change was in law. The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great (2009) by Ben Merkle, Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share…. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. There can be no doubt that Alfreds reign was significant, both for the direction of the countrys development and for the fortunes of his descendants. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. The roads also benefited trade by making it easier for travelers to move through Wessex. Furthermore his social reforms formed a solid groundwork for the building of an English society, culture and nation. At times, this involved starting from scratch, but Alfred also took advantage of damaged structures, such as those from the Roman era. Busing and Race: What Exactly Were Kamala Harris and Joe Biden Arguing About? The Saxons restored, extended, and strengthened these pre-existing fortifications for their own benefit. This was principally through the three focal issues of education, law and settlement. Learn more, Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. The Law Code of King Alfred the Great is the largest and best preserved piece of legal documentation made prior to the Norman conquest of 1066 [1], and the first surviving Anglo-Saxon law code since Ine's, nearly two centuries earlier [2], making it an essential document in the study of late Anglo-Saxon law, culture and society. Alfred compiled the 'Doom Book' from three prior Saxon codes, including the Mosaic Codes and Celtic Law. Monarch was born in the midst of a bloody conflict with the Viking army should be... Often remembered as one of England ’ s College London Exactly were Kamala and... Young prince, he was n't just a clever strategist, his most notable achievement was of course the... Remembered as one of all the English currency the West window of the title ’. 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