Page 31 - All About History - Issue 11-14

Heroes & Villains
ALFRED THE GREAT

with one bold gesture. Rather than retreat, Alfred Mercian King called Ceolwulf, who had died at A society
was determined to stand his ground; there could some point after 880, but Alfred’s role in his death
be no more defeat. He ordered his men to form an is unclear. Any involvement would have stained divided
impregnable shield wall and as the Vikings crashed his reputation as England’s ‘darling’ since London
down onto them they were slaughtered on the at the time was an Anglo-Saxon settlement. Kinship and lords
shields and swords of the Anglo-Saxons. Alfred Whether London was captured or acquired, the Anglo-Saxon society was dominated by
then led a charge into their camp at Chippenham city was brought under Alfred’s control in 886. bonds of honour and loyalty to kin groups in
and made “great slaughter among them” until they The symbolism of this act, along with his eldest individual settlements around the country and
retreated into their fortress and were “brought daughter marrying Aethelred, the lord of the the tenuous fidelity these groups swore to the
nobility and the king.
to the extreme depths of despair.” Trapped and Mercians, united all of Anglo-Saxon England in a
starving, Guthrum was forced to surrender. tenuous peace. Invaded land
Guthrum and his Viking army retreated from By 890, age had begun to creep up on Alfred. He The Anglo-Saxons themselves were invaders
Wessex for good but this did not mean they suffered from crippling stomach pain and it was of the British Isles, the Angle and Saxon
were out of England as a whole. The Vikings sapping his strength, along with the complexities tribes originated from Germany and Denmark
had established settlements in East Anglia and of trying to rule a disparate group of settlements in and established settlements across England,
subjugating the native Britons. In the time of
Northumbria and were becoming neighbours rather his own kingdom and remain the most influential Alfred, the Saxons had fully settled in Britain
than raiders. Alfred saw this and in an act that man in Mercia. Despite this, he continued
and were now under threat from the Vikings.
showed his keen intellect he forced Guthrum to building his realm by enlightening his subjects.
convert to Christianity and became his godfather. He translated a number of volumes from Latin Language barrier
By doing this he ensured an oath of to English, including The Ecclesiastical In many ways, the British Isles were a
allegiance that would guarantee History Of The English People and cosmopolitan collection of different tribes, all
the stability of his kingdom. The It is widely Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Care, of whom spoke a number of languages and
Viking threat did not disappear thought that which instructed bishops on their dialects. The Angle, Saxon, Norse, Celtic and
Latin languages combined together during this
after their defeat at Edington duties. Alfred’s contribution period to form the base of what we now know
and as a warrior, Alfred knew Alfred suffered from to the development of the as the English language.
that an attack on Wessex could Crohn’s disease, which English Church earned him
happen at any time. He built up would explain his thin such recognition that his most Divided religion
his defences and established a build and ongoing committed followers sought to There was no dominant religion in Europe
system of forts to help protect get him canonised. during this period, Christianity was becoming
the countryside; he also instigated health problems In 899, Alfred died aged 50, widespread but various forms of paganism still
held sway in many lands, including the British
new laws based on the Bible, which passing on a secure and powerful and Scandinavian kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxons
consolidated his grip on power. dynasty to his son Edward. The had converted to Christianity in 601 and referred
His most decisive act during the years Anglo-Saxons would remain dominant in to the Viking invasion as the ‘heathen invasion.’
after his victories was the consolidation of the rest England for the next 167 years, until another great
of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under his leadership. invasion in 1066 led to the investiture of a Norman Warrior society
Reasoning that one kingdom united was stronger king named William. Alfred had secured this legacy Every ‘free’ Anglo-Saxon male could be called
and more able to resist foreign invasion than a with his bravery, warrior skills and political savvy. upon to fight at any time by his lord in the fyrd
or army. These groups would often be poorly
divided land with divided interests, Alfred targeted Anglo-Saxons remembered him as ‘England’s equipped as individual warriors had to arm
London, the most important trading town in the shepherd, England’s darling’, history honoured him themselves, and it took strong leadership to
whole of England. London was controlled by a with a far grander title – Alfred the Great. keep these unruly bands together.
Defi ning moment Defi ning moment
O London liberated O The law codes
Betrayed by Guthrum The Battle of Edington Alfred takes control After studying Latin,
January 878 CE May 878 CE of London through Alfred presents
a disputed action to his kingdom a
After a Viking incursion at Wareham in Dorset is In the greatest battle of Alfred’s career, he confronts his
which may have collection of laws
defeated, the Viking chieftain Guthrum submits to old enemy Guthrum for the last time on the field of battle. involved him laying put together in a
Alfred and promises to withdraw his forces to Mercia. The battle is a desperate struggle for the survival of Alfred’s siege to the area. ‘dooms book’ which
He seals his promise on a holy ring of the Viking god kingdom. Much of Wessex is now under threat from the Viking He gains de facto is based on Christian
Odin. Instead of honouring his pledge to the warrior horde assembled in the northern part of the kingdom. Alfred dominance over teachings from the
god, Guthrum betrays Alfred and escapes, reassembles orders his men to form a dense shield wall, a common tactic all Anglo-Saxon Bible. He uses these
territory by taking laws to strengthen
his war host and destroys Alfred’s army at Chippenham, used by Anglo-Saxon armies and together they hold firm against
the most important his influence in the
forcing Alfred to flee into the countryside. The Anglo- the Viking tide that sweeps onto them. He wins a spectacular
trading city in the other Anglo-Saxon
Saxon chronicles speak of a dispirited, battle wary and victory and pursues the Vikings to Chippenham, where they
British Isles. kingdoms.
lonely Alfred seeking shelter with peasants. surround and starve them out, forcing Guthrum to surrender. 886 CE 893 CE
899 CE
O Crowned king O Treaty of Wedmore O A gift of the Death of a hero O
After the death of Alfred signs a peace treaty true cross Alfred dies in 899 aged
Aethelred, Alfred is with Guthrum, which gives In recognition of 50, ensuring a secure
crowned king of Wessex. the Vikings control of East Alfred’s true piety, Pope land for his lineage
Word is then received Anglia on the condition Marinus I presents a gift and Wessex as the
that the Vikings have won that Anglo-Saxon rights are of what he believes to dominant player of
more victories within fully respected and that the be a piece of the true the three Anglo-Saxon
the kingdom. Instead of Vikings immediately stop cross, as well as other kingdoms in England.
fighting them, Alfred strives taking slaves from priceless treasures to He is remembered as © Alamy ; Look and Learn
for peace. Wessex townships. Alfred and his court. Alfred the Great.
23 April 871 CE 878 CE 883 CE 899 CE
31