Alfred’s Viking victories made his kingdom great
The Great Heathen Army was ravaging Britain. Led by the sons of the legendary Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, they had landed in 865 and conquered large amounts of AngloSaxon territory. But one kingdom had put up strong resistance to the Danish Vikings – Wessex, under King Aethelred. In 871, Viking reinforcements arrived from Scandinavia to try to take Wessex. The Anglo-saxons, under Aethelred’s brother Alfred, had an early victory at the battle of Ashdown in January 871, but later battles had not gone so well. Aethelred was defeated at the battle of Basing on January 22, then badly wounded at the battle of Merton on March 22, 871. The king survived through Easter on April 15, but died on April 23.
His death created a major problem. At a time when the Anglo-saxons were under siege by the Vikings the king had died with two heirs, Aethelhelm and Aethelwold, both of whom were only infants, not yet old enough to rule. Instead the crown was offered to, or possibly taken by, Alfred, who was only 21 but who had at least led an army successfully against the Vikings.
It was a fortunate choice. Alfred first paid the Norse invaders money to buy some time to rebuild his forces and then used a combination of diplomacy, Brickbats to cunning the woman who left her and trolley brilliantly in a disabled planned parking space at military Deeragun strategy Woolworths to finally on Saturday. defeat Your laziness the Vikings. knows Under no boundaries. An his utter rule disgrace. he unified SMITHY the Anglo4818
Saxon kingdoms, paving the way for the later creation of the kingdom of England. His story has been retold many times, most recently in the Harvard TV series academics The Last claim Kingdom “research” and also shows Vikings. smacking causes long term psychological Alfred was problems never meant for to children. be king. He Front was page born news in 849, for the sixth last five child, years and the in Townsville fifth son, of tells King the Aethelwulf real story, it’s of Wessex. called the A truth, sickly, children frail child, who he don’t grew up with have an loving, interest guiding in poetry parents and who a deep draw piety, that was only made greater by
two visits to Rome. On The bronze the statue first, of in Johnathan 853, he and his Thurston brother at Queensland Aethelred Country were Bank given Stadium. the title of Consul, an honorary title that conferred a line in the nobility sand grow on the up as holder dysfunctional, of the title. selfish, and sadly for so many, On criminals. his second Academics visit to do not live Rome, in the real in 855, world. he was PEDRO CRANBROOK accompanied by his father who had to fight a rebellion by his oldest son Aethelbald when he returned in 856. Aethelwulf was forced to divide his kingdom between his sons.
Steve, power bills falling, really? Where mate, Brisbane? L.W. SARGENT, AITKENVALE, David 4814 Dawson as King Alfred the Great in The Last Kingdom; (inset) a portrait of the monarch.
When Aethelwulf died in 858, Aethelbald inherited the throne of Wessex but he died in 860 and Aethelberht took the throne. He died in 865, just before the Great Heathen Army arrived, leaving his brother Aethelred to deal with the invaders. Aethelred was still childless at the time, so Alfred was designated his successor. The teenage Alfred was given military training Once to again take the part ABC in has fighting been against outed the Danes. In 867 he was married to
Ealhswith, the daughter of a Mercian noble. He was soon being called upon to fight for his wife’s homeland; the first record of his service comes from 868 when he accompanied his brother on an expedition to help King Burgred of Mercia drive out the army of Ivar the Boneless, one of the sons of
Ragnar. But in the end Burgred paid the Danes off rather than fight.
The Vikings then looked elsewhere for conquests for the next two years before renewing their efforts against Wessex in 870. They were aided by reinforcements in the form of the
Great Summer Army (dispatched in summer from Denmark) which arrived in January 871.
But Alfred, at the head of his own army, dealt the Vikings a defeat at Ashdown. However, King Aethelred had trouble repeating his brother’s success and died in April after his defeat at Merton. Alfred became king and, knowing that he lacked the forces to strike a decisive blow, made peace with the Vikings. The Danes withdrew to London. in their The peace attempt held to for bash five the years prime but in 876 minister they and attacked the current again. federal Alfred put up a government strong resistance with their and fallacious the Vikings made covering little of headway the launching before of the HMAS withdrawing Supply. Obviously in 877. done They very returned in 878 deliberately in a surprise as they attack gave that an drove apology … Alfred no regard and for his the court collateral into hiding damage in the to swamps the dance of troupe. Somerset. JH MUNDINGBURRA
According to one legend, Alfred was scolded by an old woman he sheltered with after he was distracted by enemy forces and let cakes burn that she had asked him to watch. From the marshes the king was able to mount a resistance to the Danes and rebuild his forces. In May 878 he met them in a decisive battle at Edington. The surviving Vikings took refuge in a fort which was besieged by Alfred’s army and the Danes Christine sued for Holgate peace. should be given an apology, Their leader, reinstated Guthrum, and a watch. converted COL to Christianity, ROSSLEA took the name Aethelstan and signed a treaty confining his territory to East Anglia. Alfred had earnt his epithet “The Great”. Alfred took the offensive and captured London. Danish raids continued but faced with such resistance they gave up attempts at a large-scale invasion. Alfred ruled until his death in 899.