Alfred’s daughter, Ethelfleda, married Ethelred, Ealdorman of Mercia. Thanks to his education, Alfred learned ancient languages and works of the great writers of his time and his history. 849 - 899. During his reign, he repelled the Viking invasions and laid the foundation for what became the Kingdom of England. However, as London was in the Kingdom of Mercia, Alfred, turned London over to Mercian control. He is also seen as having a great destiny by his step-father, King Aethelwulf. Ethelswitha on pilgrimage Alfred the Great captured London, allegedly after defeating a Danish garrison. Discenza, Nicole Guenther, and Paul E. Szarmach, eds. London and New York: Longman, 1998. Alfred serves as military commander under his brother King Aethelred against Viking raiders. Alfred becomes king of Wessex following Aethelred's death. He is known to most people as the King who won against the Viking invasion. I would assume that people who end up in this page will know who this awesome king is, but for those who don’t know, I have included basic background information about Alfred the Great. Since he had four elder brothers, the chances of him becoming the king were improbable. Alfred, king of Wessex (the area south of the Thames River in England — and the Thames is the river that runs through London, so go ahead and check the map), is universally referred to as The Great. As a child, he, at the behest of his father, made a trip to Rome in 853, where Pope Leo IV anointed him as the future King of Wessex. 878. King Alfred of Wessex and Mercia (Old English meaning "elf counsel") is the illegitimate son of Judith and Athelstan. Alfred the Great (c. 849 - 26 October 899) was King of Wessex from 871 to 899. In 853 he was taken to Rome to be confirmed by the Pope and it is likely that he was being prepared for a life in the Church. Reign of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. He was protected by the late King Ecbert, who claims that God has very special plans for him. And not without good reason. Alfred started the Royal Navy in the 9th century A Companion to Alfred the Great. 871. 888/9. He was the king of Wessex, which was an Anglo-Saxon empire in the South of England. 865 - 871. 871 - 899. Marriage of Ethelfleda. Life of King Alfred the Great. Alfred takes London. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Alfred-the-Great He was the first monarch from the British Isles to style himself as 'King of the Anglo-Saxons ' and so he is sometimes considered the first English king. 886/7. Search Results. Alfred the Great was king of Wessex from 871 to 899. King Alfred the Great was born in 849, the 5th son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex and Osburh at Wantage, Berkshire. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/alfred-great-0011216 Alfred the Great Timeline. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. He was born as the fifth son of Aethelwulf, King of the West Saxons. Upholds the traditional view of Alfred as warrior and as lover of wisdom while arguing for the importance of Asser’s Life. Alfred the Great (Old English: Aelfrēd; c. 849 – 899), also known as Alfred of Wessex, was King of Wessex from 871 to 886 and later King of the Anglo-Saxons from c. 886 to 899. Alfred was not expected to become King since he had four elder brothers. Ninth century English nobleman Alfred (David Hemmings) puts his plans to become a priest on hold, because his country has been invaded by Vikings. Alfred the Great was the king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 886 to 899. He's the odd sort of … Great writers of his time and his history won against the Viking invasion 899 ) was King Wessex... Mercian control son of Aethelwulf, King of the West Saxons Paul E. Szarmach,.... Alfred as warrior and as lover of wisdom while arguing for the importance of Asser s. 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