Alfred The Great King, Saint, and all around good guy
The Life of a “Great” Born around Born in what is now Wantage, Oxfordshire. He was anointed by Pope Leo IV as king at only age 5. Mother was Queen Osburga. He had three older brothers. He loved to learn.
The Life Continued It is believed that Alfred had Crohn’s Disease. Though his statues depict him as a great warrior, it is believed that he was more intellectual than physically strong.
His Reign as King Alfred the Great to the throne in 871, after the death of his brother Ethelred. As soon as he assumed the throne he suffered military defeat at the hands of the Danes. After a treacherous betrayal of treaty, the Danes nearly killed King Alfred in the winter of 878. This is when he was forced to retreat into the swamp.
His Military Alfred was great king. He is known for making military and political restorations He learned from his defeats that the existing strategies were not effective against the Danes, driving him to make changes. At the center of his restructuring was his system of fortresses, or burhs. These were strategically placed throughout the kingdom.
His Politics In order for his military strategy to work he needed support. In order to accomplish this he took restructured existing regulations that required landowners to do “fortress work.” This was nothing new, just a reinstatement of past procedure.
Naval Aspirations In 896 Alfred tried his hand at naval design. Though this is not classified as the birth of the English fleet, it was a great help in fighting the Danes.
Legal Reform In the late 880’s, early 890’s, Alfred issued a law code of his own laws and those of a seventh century king. Though it was an honorable attempt, his law code was a hodgepodge and sometimes contradicted existing law that he left in place.
His Death Alfred died on October 26 th, 901 according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. There is some debate over the exact year, doubts exist about the recorded date of his death. His remains have been lost over the centuries and we have no concrete idea where he was laid to rest.
A Prayer about the Great O Sovereign Lord, who didst bring thy servant Alfred to a Troubled throne that he might establish peace in a ravaged land and revive learning and the arts among the people: Awake in us also, we beseech thee, a keen desire to increase our understanding while we are in this world, and an eager longing to reach that endless life where all will be made clear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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