Alfred the Great was king of Wessex from 871 to 899. Thanks to his education, Alfred learned ancient languages and works of the great writers of his time and his history. 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. By the age of 20, he had received the crown, and was considered an experienced and courageous warrior.
The First Years
He desired absolute power, and the legislative innovations in his rule were resisted by the elders. The gradual alienation between the king and his people led to several military defeats from the Danes, to which Alfred had to pay tribute. The concluding truce saved Kent and Wessex from raids from the Danes for a time, but the rest of England was left defenseless and was conquered by the Vikings. Danes seized and plundered London in 871.
King Alfred used five years of truce to create his own naval fleet. The Danes had actively used their fleet for unexpected attacks from the sea and evaded open battles. Alfred secretly began the construction of a large number of ships on the rivers. By 875, he had a considerable fleet, which managed to inflict damaging defeats on the Danes. Alfred continued to build his fleet and achieved such success that the shores of his kingdom were no longer subject to Vikings’ raids.
Military Reform
Alfred divided the country into military districts, in which every five farms supported one warrior, supplying him with all his physical needs. Each city also provided a certain number of soldiers. Service in the army remained the responsibility of every free man, but now he could spend part of his time in his household. In addition, some of the soldiers were now serving in towns and villages. Alfred began to restore the old, and build new fortresses capable of repulsing attacks of a small detachment or to withstand a siege before reinforcement from the main forces of the kingdom. By the end of the king’s life, about thirty fortresses were restored or built.
War with Vikings
Alfred was preparing the army and navy for war with the Danes. In the early spring of 877, Wessex’s army encircled and blocked the Danes and deprived them of reinforcements. The Danes from Wergegm tried to break through the blockade, but a violent storm swept in and destroyed most of the Viking fleet. Hunger and desperation made the Danes enter into negotiations and capitulate. A peace was concluded in which the Danes released hostages, paid a ransom and swore not to attack the possessions of King Alfred. The Danes soon broke their sacred oath. They left to the north, but, as it turned out, not that far. Having settled at Gloucester, they waited for reinforcements.
Taking advantage of the fact that Alfred had dissolved his army, in 878 they renewed the full-scale war. King Guthrum moved south. His considerable military forces invaded Wessex from several directions, seized London and camped near the River Avon to spend the winter. For Alfred and his troops, this was a complete surprise. Alfred left his soldiers and his people and fled to save his life. Alfred himself became less arrogant and wiser.
Meanwhile, a small detachment gathered around Alfred. His people fortified earthen ramparts and a palisade island, and then began conducting surprise sorties against the Danes. Gradually, Alfred’s army grew. After six months of guerrilla warfare, he decided to attack the Danes’ main camp.
In 878, Alfred attacked the Viking camp on its’ weakest side, and the next day took their fortifications. Finally, the leader of the Danes, Guthrum, entered into negotiations with Alfred. Guthrum left Wessex and received baptism. King Alfred was his godfather at his baptism. They made a treaty on the division of England between the Danes and the King of Wessex. All the lands captured by the Scandinavians remained under Guthrum’s rule. Alfred went to Wessex, Sussex, Kent and the west area of Mercia.
Strengthening of the State
Alfred began to strengthen and organize his kingdom. The peace with Guthrum gave the Anglo-Saxons several years to recoup, but the Vikings who plundered the opposite coast of the English Channel attacked the English coast. Alfred prevented them from landing and gaining a foothold. In 884, he forced the Normans to lift the siege from Rochester. His ships constantly patrolled the coast. In 886, Alfred reconquered London, badly damaged by the Danes, who had looted it and almost completely burned it. Alfred rebuilt the ruined city and made it his second residence, along with the main city of Wessex, Winchester, which remained the capital of England. Alfred built many new fortifications and organized a special militia in locations that could be attacked.
Legislative and Administrative Reforms
King Alfred restored the social order in his kingdom. He organized the administration, restoring the old division of counties and communities and appointed judges. The people’s court began to create order with the support of the population. Many efforts were made by the king to restore the crippled economy. For the development of agriculture, he redistributed deserted land and carried out a new demarcation. The king took care of trade and industry. Roads were built with the help of skilled Frisian craftsmen, invited by Alfred.
Last Years
At the beginning of the 890s, England was again attacked by a large Viking army, who attempted to seize the fertile lands of the southern part of the kingdom. Alfred defeated the Danish fleet and repulsed the attack of the Welsh. Alfred’s fleet completely cleared the strait from sea marauders. During the last years of his life, Alfred was devoted to the plans of the union of Christian states against invasions of heathen Normans. King Alfred, nicknamed The Great, died in Winchester in 899. He was succeeded by his son, Edward the Elder. He remains historically one of the great English rulers.
Sources:
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