General Notes

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Acceded 871-899.
Alfred
From the late 8th century, attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia
increased.After a major invasion in 865, the kingdoms of Northumbria and
Merciawere rapidly overrun, and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex.
TheWessex forces under the command of Alfred (reigned 871-99), then aged
21,defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes
withdrewto an area north of a frontier running from London to Chester and
knownas 'Danelaw'.
This victory did not finish the Danish threat, and Alfred reorganised
theWessex defences by organising his army on a rota basis, so he could
raisea 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling
histhegns and peasants to tend their farms. Second, Alfred started
abuilding programme of well-defended settlements across southern
Englandas a defence in depth against Danish raiders. Alfred also ordered
thebuilding of a navy of new fast ships to patrol the coasts and
meetinvaders before they penetrated inland.
Other reforms included establishing a legal code (assembled from the
lawsof his predecessors and of the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent),
andreforming the coinage. Illiterate in Latin until the age of 38,
Alfredpromoted literacy, religion and education, and directed the
translationof works of religious instruction, philosophy and history into
thevernacular; this was partly so that people could read his orders
andlegislation. The energetic royal authority demonstrated in
Alfred'spolicies presaged the Wessex kings' rule of all England during
the nextcentury.
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Reigned 871-899.  Prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeatingthem
at Eddington (878) after a campaign of guerilla warfare.  After
thevictory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in East Anglia
&Mercia provided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to
Christianity.Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast
aginst furtherDanish invasions (885-886, 892-896) & protected Wessex with
a chain offortifications.  He took London (886) thus gaining control of
all Englandexcept the Danish areas. Quote from Winston Churchill:
("Alfred theGreat", chapter 7 of volume 1 of his "History of the
English-SpeakingPeoples".  An appreciation of "the greatest Englishman
that ever lived"). Quote from Maurice Ashley in "Great Britain to 1688"
about Alfred:  "Hewas the greatest Englishman in early history" (p. 41).
Banner was agolden dragon (the golden dragon was the banner of  the
kingdom ofWessex, Alfred's personal banner was the White Horse). Since
Alfred wasthe fifth son, it was never thought he would be King, and thus
unlike hisolder brothers who have the royal mark of the ruling house of
Wessex"AEthel" (or "Ethel") as a part of their names, Alfred was instead
namedafter his mother's folk).
REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of
GeorgiaVol I, Number 3 (Spring, 1994): "ALFRED'S MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS",
AlexBruce
Alfred the Great is remembered for his two great victories--his successin
re-establishing learning in his kingdom of Wessex (see Matheliende 1.2),
and his success in defeating the seemingly unstoppable forces of
theinvading Danes. No matter how much we venerate the revival of
educationunder Alfred, the latter of these successes is, however, the
greater;there would have been no possibility of restoring the centers of
learninghad Alfred not brought peace to his land. When Alfred became king
of theWest Saxons in 871, he was already an experienced military leader,
as hehad participated in several campaigns against the invading Danes.
TheDanes had been present in the British Isles since at least 789, but
untilthe time of Alfred they had concentrated their efforts on
subjugating theeastern lands of Britain. However, in 865 a great army of
Danes hungryfor land and wealth moved quickly through the kingdoms of
East Anglia andNorthu