{"slug": "alfred-the-great", "label": "Alfred the Great", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83476", "qid": "Q83476", "description": "king of Wessex (r. 872–901)", "entries": 34, "years": 32, "span": [849, 1251], "span_label": ["849 CE", "1251 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 12}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 5}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 4}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 4}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 3}, {"title": "Births", "count": 2}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 2}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 1}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "wessex", "label": "Wessex", "shared": 10}, {"slug": "vikings", "label": "Vikings", "shared": 8}, {"slug": "denmark", "label": "Denmark", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "mercia", "label": "Mercia", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "exeter", "label": "Exeter", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "edward-the-elder", "label": "Edward the Elder", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "england", "label": "England", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "thelred-of-wessex", "label": "Æthelred of Wessex", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "thelred-lord-of-the-mercians", "label": "Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "great-heathen-army", "label": "Great Heathen Army", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "guthrum", "label": "Guthrum", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "thelfld", "label": "Æthelflæd", "shared": 3}], "items": [{"year": 849, "year_label": "849 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Alfred the Great, king of Wessex (d. 899)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129155#Births", "title": "849", "revid": 1341129155, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 854, "year_label": "854 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "King Æthelwulf of Wessex sends his two youngest sons, Alfred and Æthelred, on a pilgrimage to Rome.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129142#Britain", "title": "854", "revid": 1341129142, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 855, "year_label": "855 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "Spring – King Æthelwulf of Wessex decides to go on a pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by his youngest son Alfred (age 6) and a large retinue. He divides the kingdom between his two eldest sons; Æthelbald receives the western part of Wessex, while Æthelberht becomes ruler over Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350256482#Britain", "title": "855", "revid": 1350256482, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 868, "year_label": "868 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Alfred the Great marries Ealhswith (a daughter of Æthelred, known as Mucel, an ealdorman of the Gaini). He supports his brother Æthelred I, in his choice to form an alliance with Mercia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358169430#Britain", "title": "868", "revid": 1358169430, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 871, "year_label": "871 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "January 4", "text": "January 4 – Battle of Reading: A West Saxon force, under the command of King Æthelred I and his brother Alfred, is defeated by the Danes at Reading. Among the many dead on both sides is Æthelwulf. The Saxon troops are forced to retreat, allowing the Vikings to continue their advance into Wessex.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129558#Europe", "title": "871", "revid": 1341129558, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 875, "year_label": "875 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "June", "text": "June – The Great Heathen Army, led by Guthrum, moves on Cambridge. He later returns to Wessex, to establish a winter quarter. King Alfred the Great fights the Danes in a naval engagement.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352180718#Britain", "title": "875", "revid": 1352180718, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 876, "year_label": "876 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Great Heathen Army, led by Guthrum, captures the fortress of Wareham (Dorset), and is met by a Viking army (3,500 men) from the sea, which lands at Poole Harbour. King Alfred the Great traps the Vikings, and demands hostages in return for a peace agreement. The Danes divide their forces; half flees to Exeter, where they besiege the town while the other half escape in their ships, but are lost in a storm near Swanage.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267070562#Britain", "title": "876", "revid": 1267070562, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 877, "year_label": "877 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Autumn – King Alfred the Great raises a large force, and marches on the Viking camp at the city of Exeter. His army besieges the Great Summer Army, led by Guthrum, and forces the Vikings to surrender. They flee north to Gloucester, and settle in the Five Boroughs (modern East Midlands).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267071400#Britain", "title": "877", "revid": 1267071400, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 878, "year_label": "878 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "January 6", "text": "January 6 – Battle of Chippenham: King Alfred the Great of Wessex is surprised by a Viking attack at Chippenham in Wiltshire. He is forced to flee, with his retinue, into the Somerset Levels for safety. From his headquarters at Athelney, Alfred wages guerrilla warfare against the Vikings.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1353695287#Britain", "title": "878", "revid": 1353695287, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 879, "year_label": "879 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great establishes a series of fortified villages (or burhs) to protect Wessex against Viking raids. He creates a standing army to defend the strategic ports, and builds a network of well-maintained army roads (known as herepaths).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1348046041#Britain", "title": "879", "revid": 1348046041, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 880, "year_label": "880 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Æthelweard, son of Alfred the Great (approximate date)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372561483#Births", "title": "880", "revid": 1372561483, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 882, "year_label": "882 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great increases the size of his new navy, and sails out to attack four Viking ships. Two of the ships are captured (before they surrender), and the other crews are killed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1345951089#Britain", "title": "882", "revid": 1345951089, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 884, "year_label": "884 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "King Æthelred II of Mercia marries Princess Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred the Great. He accepts Wessex overlordship, and demotes himself to become \"Lord of the Mercians\".", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366654158#Britain", "title": "884", "revid": 1366654158, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 885, "year_label": "885 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "A naval force raised by Alfred the Great takes part in the two Battles of the River Stour.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366655145#Britain", "title": "885", "revid": 1366655145, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 885, "year_label": "885 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great summons Asser, a relative of Bishop Nobis of St. David's, to the English royal court. He agrees to spend six months of the year in the king's service. Asser helps to negotiate the recognition of Alfred, as overlord of the Welsh kings.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366655145#Britain", "title": "885", "revid": 1366655145, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 886, "year_label": "886 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great of Wessex recaptures London from the Danish Vikings, and renames it Lundenburh. Slightly upstream from London Bridge, he builds a small harbor called Queenhithe. Alfred hands the town over to his son-in-law Æthelred, lord of Mercia. A street system is planned out in the town, with boundaries of 1,100 yards from east to west, and around 330 yards from north to south.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367666946#Britain", "title": "886", "revid": 1367666946, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 888, "year_label": "888 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Shaftesbury Abbey is founded by King Alfred the Great in Dorset. He installs his daughter Æthelgifu as first abbess (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1347624107#Religion", "title": "AD 888", "revid": 1347624107, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 889, "year_label": "889 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Lord Æthelred II and Lady Æthelflæd (a daughter of king Alfred the Great) of the Mercians begin their policy of fortifying Mercian cities as defensive burghs, starting with Worcester (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129924#Britain", "title": "889", "revid": 1341129924, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 890, "year_label": "890 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great begins to commission and undertake a series of translations into Old English, beginning with his own version of Pope Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373061013#Britain", "title": "890", "revid": 1373061013, "section": "Events › By place › Europe › Britain"}}, {"year": 892, "year_label": "892 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Viking raiders (80 ships) under Hastein arrive in the Thames Estuary, and set up camp at Middleton. King Alfred the Great decides to position his army in the Wealden Forest.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346093317#Britain", "title": "892", "revid": 1346093317, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 893, "year_label": "893 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Spring – Prince Edward, the son of King Alfred the Great, defeats the Danish Viking raiders at Farnham, and forces them to take refuge on Thorney Island. At the same time, Danes from East Anglia sail around the Cornish coast, and besiege Exeter.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364917563#Britain", "title": "893", "revid": 1364917563, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 894, "year_label": "894 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Vikings in Northumbria and East Anglia swear allegiance and hand over hostages to King Alfred the Great, but promptly break their truce by attacking the southwest of England. A Viking force returns from Exeter and sails along the coast, in an attempt to plunder Chichester. They are defeated by the Saxon garrison, losing many ships and men.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341130298#Britain", "title": "894", "revid": 1341130298, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 895, "year_label": "895 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Autumn – King Alfred the Great blockades the Lea River and builds fortifications, trapping the Danish Vikings at Hertford. They abandon their longships and escape to Bridgnorth, located in the Severn Valley.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346093921#Britain", "title": "895", "revid": 1346093921, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 896, "year_label": "896 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Summer – King Alfred the Great orders the building of English warships (almost twice as long as the longships) on the Itchen at Southampton, against the Danish Viking raiders in Wessex.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346094345#Britain", "title": "896", "revid": 1346094345, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 898, "year_label": "898 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "King Alfred the Great makes his eldest son Edward the Elder co-ruler of Wessex in preparation for his accession to the English throne.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346095520#Britain", "title": "898", "revid": 1346095520, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 899, "year_label": "899 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "October 26", "text": "October 26 – King Alfred the Great dies after a 28-year reign in which he has forced invading Danish Vikings to withdraw, consolidated England around Wessex, divided parts of Mercia into shires, compiled the best laws of earlier kings, encouraged learning by bringing famous scholars to Wessex and made his own translations of Latin works. He is succeeded by his eldest son, Edward the Elder as king of Wessex.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341130263#Britain", "title": "899", "revid": 1341130263, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 899, "year_label": "899 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "October 26", "text": "October 26 – Alfred the Great, king of Wessex (b. 849)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341130263#Deaths", "title": "899", "revid": 1341130263, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 900, "year_label": "900 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "June 8", "text": "June 8 – Edward the Elder (son of Alfred the Great) is crowned king of England at Kingston upon Thames.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364042634#Europe", "title": "900", "revid": 1364042634, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 902, "year_label": "902 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "December 5", "text": "December 5 – Ealhswith, queen and wife of Alfred the Great", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341130244#Deaths", "title": "902", "revid": 1341130244, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 914, "year_label": "914 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, a daughter of King Alfred the Great, builds a burh or fortified dwelling at Warwick and repairs Eddisbury hill fort. She leads the Mercians in their fight against the Danish invaders.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1355643516#Britain", "title": "914", "revid": 1355643516, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 916, "year_label": "916 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Lady Æthelflæd, daughter of the late King Alfred the Great and the widow of Earl Æthelred of Mercia, sends an army into Brycheiniog to avenge the murder of the Mercian abbot Ecbryht and his companions. They seize and burn the royal fort of King Tewdr of Brycheiniog at Llangorse Lake (Wales), and take the queen and thirty-three others captive.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352766259#Britain", "title": "916", "revid": 1352766259, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 920, "year_label": "920 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Æthelweard, son of Alfred the Great (or 922)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1349205100#Deaths", "title": "920", "revid": 1349205100, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 922, "year_label": "922 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Æthelweard, son of Alfred the Great of England (or 920)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341509630#Deaths", "title": "922", "revid": 1341509630, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 1251, "year_label": "1251 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The earliest known manuscript of The Proverbs of Alfred, a collection of sayings of England's Alfred the Great, is written.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362481176#Europe", "title": "1251", "revid": 1362481176, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}]}