Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great (849 – 26 October 899) (Old English: Ælfrēd, Ælfrǣd, "elf counsel" or "wise elf") was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.
Alfred successfully defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, and by the time of his death had become the dominant ruler in England. He is one of only two English monarchs to be given the epithet "the Great", the other being the Scandinavian Cnut the Great. He was also the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of Alfred's life are described in a work by the 10th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser. A devout Christian, Alfred had a reputation as a learned and merciful man of a gracious and level-headed nature who encouraged education and improved his kingdom's legal system, military structure and his people's quality of life.
Childhood
Alfred was born in the village of Wanating, now Wantage, Oxfordshire. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, by his first wife, Osburh.
Alfred the Great (disambiguation)
Alfred the Great (c. 849–899) was an English king.
Alfred the Great may also refer to:
Alfred the Great (film)
Alfred the Great is a 1969 epic film which portrayed Alfred the Great's struggle to rid Wessex of the invading Danes, in the 870s AD. It starred David Hemmings in the title role.
Plot
When the Vikings invade England, Alfred is about to take his priesthood vows. However, his brother, King Æthelred of Wessex, summons him to his aid and Alfred leaves for battle, where he appears to be a great tactician. Æthelred dies shortly after Alfred marries the Mercian princess Aelhswith. Torn between following intellect or passion, Alfred at first refuses to succeed Æthelred and consummate his marriage, but is forced to accept kingship after the Danes attack again.
Realising the weak position of Wessex, Alfred goes into negotiations with Guthrum, leader of the Vikings. Aelhswith on the other hand agrees to become Guthrum's hostage and they start to develop feelings for each other.
Alfred has difficulty acting like a king, calling for obedience and egalitarianism in the Medieval society of three estates, which the fighting nobility does not appreciate. The cleric Asser warns him that he is too proud and later, the Danes defeat Alfred. The latter is forced to retreat to the fens of Somerset. Roger's bandits, who take Alfred in, are more loyal to Alfred than his noblemen.
Podcasts:
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by Cherry Ghost
Alfred The Great
by: Cherry Ghost15th heir to the ball and chain
House full of hungry kids to his name
Everything to lose and nothing to gain
Long reign Alfred, the great
Touched his toes down the company store
Scrubbed till he see his face in the floor
Lost his place to a foot in the door
Long reign Alfred, the Great
He never been too good with words oh no
Said you don't need a Doctor
You don’t need a Doctor to show
It's a hard, hard road
When your folks ain't cracked the code
And your tears don't put food on the plate
Alfred, the great, watch out
Ever get the feeling you been stitched up?
Textbook case of bad, bad luck
There's a hole in your bucket and cracks in your cup
Long reign Alfred, the great
Touched his toes down the company store
Scrubbed till he see his face in the floor
He ain't gonna dance for the suits no more
Long reign Alfred, the great
He never been too good with words oh no
Said you don't need a Doctor
You don’t need a Doctor to show
It's a hard, hard road
When your folks ain't cracked the code
And your tears don't put food on the plate
Alfred, the great, watch out
It's a hard, hard road
When your folks ain't cracked the code
And your tears don't put food on the plate
And the rent won't wait, oh no
It's a hard, hard road
When your folks ain't cracked the code
And your tears don't put food on the plate
Alfred, the great, watch out
Food on the plate