Page 30 - All About History - Issue 11-14

Heroes & Villains
ALFRED THE GREAT

mobilised men to serve in their army and after Alfred barely escaped with his life, most of his
days of marching they met the Vikings on a ridge men had been killed or captured by the Viking
near Ashdown. The Vikings were surprised by the host and it seemed that all was lost. He ran into the
hot-blooded aggression of Alfred; he attacked uphill marshes and spent the next few months evading
– like a “wild boar”, according to the chronicler capture, eventually holding up in a peasant’s house.
Bishop Asser – tearing into the Viking lines and A story was written in later chronicles that he was
causing them to retreat while his brother was still so consumed by the threat to his kingdom that
at prayer. It was said afterward that the when asked to watch over some cakes by
field was “covered in bodies.” After a peasant woman, his mind wandered
years of plundering the Vikings had Alfred’s and they burned. The woman
finally met their match. admonished him, saying, ‘‘Look
Alfred’s triumph was commitment to here, man, you hesitate to turn
celebrated throughout Wessex, Christianity was well the loaves which you see to be
but it was to be short-lived. known; the Pope gave burning, yet you’re quite happy
Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel The Battle of Ashdown was to eat them when they come
to infiltrate the Danish camp him a piece of what
followed by defeat after defeat; warm from the oven.” Rather
large stretches of Wessex were was thought to be than punish her, Alfred was said
Alfred the soon under Viking control. It was the true cross to have acted humbly. The tale
not only showed how far the king
warrior and during these bleak days of 871 that had fallen but how his troubles had
Aethelred died and Alfred claimed
tactician the throne of his embattled kingdom. He now affected his character.
Warfare during Alfred’s reign was not knew he could no longer defeat the Vikings and Rather than surrendering his kingdom, Alfred
for the faint of heart. Battles involved attempted to pay them off, affording the realm gathered his warriors around Southampton and
thousands of fierce warriors brutally killing some respite, but the raids soon continued, so in used guerrilla tactics to turn the tables on the
each other with swords, axes, maces or 876, he locked swords with his greatest adversary, raiders until he could nail them down to one last
any other sharp object that came to hand the Viking chieftain Guthrum at Wareham. In a engagement at Edington. It was the greatest battle
in uncontrolled melees. Battlefields would siege that involved Alfred using longships off the of Alfred’s career. The moment was captured by
run with blood as the victor claimed their
prize of crops, loot and slaves from the Dorset coast to block the Vikings’ escape route one of his scribes: “Then the band of bold men
local populace. The Anglo-Saxon tactic to the sea, Guthrum was defeated and made to was quickly made ready, men brave in battle […]
of forming a shield wall to protect their swear an oath of peace to Alfred on a ring of warriors marched out, bore banners of victory […]
warriors against incoming missiles was the Norse battle god Odin. In an act that Alfred heroes beneath their helmets at the break of dawn;
partially effective at keeping their soldiers would never forget, Guthrum went back on his the shields resounded
alive so they could close in for hand-to- word, murdered Alfred’s emissaries and inflicted a loudly.” Guthrum lead
hand combat, but its effects were limited crushing defeat on Alfred’s forces at Chippenham a huge charge into the
against a highly mobile foe like the Vikings,
who specialised in surrounding the enemy during a Christian feast day. It was an act designed Anglo-Saxon forces,
quickly. Alfred was aware of this problem to reaffirm Guthrum’s fierce commitment to his hoping to smash
and of the relative weakness of mustering warrior gods. Alfred and his men
a diffuse and at times reluctant community

mome
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of settlements to stave off encroaching Defi ning moment
Viking raids. He ordered a fledgling Anglo-
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a
Saxon navy, with bigger ships than the Battle of Ashdown
8 January 871 CE
Vikings’ and the construction of a system 8 J a n u a r y 8 7 1 CE
Alfred leads an attack on Viking positions at
of forts throughout Wessex known as A l f r e d l e a d s a n a t t a c k o n V i k i n g p o s i t i o n s a t
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defend their homes from the invaders. He through the area and into Wessex. Knowing that
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that could respond to foreign threats far only way to secure victory, Alfred finds a Saraen
an invasion of East
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army. It also meant that the Vikings could the English mainland this creates musters all the men in the area to
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no longer claim land and lordship over the is taken by the b battle. The fighting lasts hours as the Vikings and
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people they conquered, allowing Alfred to Danish army. Alfred Anglo-Saxons go head-to-head in close combat t
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consolidate his hold over his own kingdom. is made secundarius that leaves hundreds dead, but eventually Alfred
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(advisor) to the king. p prevails and the Viking host retreats eastward. .
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865 CE The Battle of Ashdown is Alfred’s first victory. .
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Timeline
849 CE
O Birth of a warrior O Pilgrimage to Rome O Marriage to O Battle against Ivar O Alfred is made
Alfred is born in Alfred goes on a Ealhswith the Boneless heir apparent
Wantage, Berkshire. pilgrimage to Rome Alfred marries Alfred and Aethelred In order to prevent
He is the youngest son where he is made a Ealhswith of Mercia fight the Viking host led a succession crisis in
of King Aethelwulf and consul by the Pope. He as a way of showing by Ivar the Boneless in the face of the Viking
his first wife Osburh. also spends time in the solidarity against the Mercia. Despite fierce invasion the reigning king,
Aethelwulf insists his court of Charles the Bald invading Vikings. One fighting they cannot Aethelred, agrees that
children succeed to the of the Franks where he account describes her prevent the Vikings Alfred should be next in
throne in turn, making learns about his greatest as “the true and dear from crushing resistance line to the throne despite
Alfred fifth in line. enemy: the Vikings. lady of the English.” wherever they find it. Aethelred having children.
849 CE 853 CE 868 CE 868 CE January 871 CE
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