• General Notes

  Alfred the Great is probably the most famous of all of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Much of his fame is based on legend, not historic fact. However, based solely on the facts known to us today, he still ranks as one of the most important early kings of the British Isle. He is the only English King to be known as 'The Great'.
  The Vikings, or Danes, had invaded England in 793. They controlled East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia and they were moving to take control of Wessex. Alfred defeated the invading Danes at the battle of Edlington in 878; however, allowed the Danes to keep the territories they had previously won in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, King of Denmark, converted to Christianity (Treaty of Wedmore). The dividing line between English and Danish territory was roughly a line running northwest from London to Chester; Alfred ruled south of this line and was recognized as overlord of the area to the north that became known as the Danelaw.
  King Alfred built a Navy to defend the coasts against further Danish invasions; he protected Wessex by building a chain of fortified towns called 'burghs'. These towns were located such that no one lived more than twenty miles from one of them (there were 30 of these burghs manned by about 900 military men for a total defensive army of 27,000).
  In 886 he took control of London thus gaining control of all of England except for that portion controlled by the Danes, yet was recognized as King of all England by both the Saxons and the Danes.
  Alfred reformed and codified Saxon law. Being well-educated himself, he promoted a revival in learning, and instigated the compilation of the famous ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, a 1,200-year history of the people of England from before Julius Caesar's invasion of the British Isles in 55 BC.
  -----------
  Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.
  
  Alfred created a series of fortifications whose purpose was to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in the doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a supporter of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counselor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."
  Source:
  www.britannia.com

Details of Alfred "The Great" King Of's family with Ealhswith Queen Of England