• General Notes

  Alfred, The Great (849-99), king of the West Saxons (871-99) was the only English king called "Great" and was one of the outstanding figures of English history. He was the youngest of five sons of King AEthelwulf. On the death of his brother, Ethelred, Alfred became king, coming to t he throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making pea ce with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About East er of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captur ed their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of h is kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterwa rd he was recognized as the king of all England.
  
  In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years we re marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from A lfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Al fred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the f oundation for the unification of England.
  
  Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his peop le. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, nota bly the Welsh monk Asser and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian Jo hn Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Cons olation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, T he History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius, and Pastor al Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
  
  Alfred founded the British Navy and organized the Militia.
  

Details of Alfred's family with Ealhswith  of the Gaini