Alfred, the Great c. 848-c. 900.
King of Wessex from 871. He defended England
against Danish invasion, founded the first
English navy, and put into operation a legal
code. He encouraged the translation of works
from Latin (some of which he translated
himself), and promoted the development of the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Alfred was born at
Wantage, Berkshire, the youngest son of
Ethelwulf (died 858), king of the West
Saxons. In 870 Alfred and his brother
Ethelred fought many battles against the
Danes. He gained a victory over the Danes at
Ashdown 871, and succeeded Ethelred as king
in Apr 871 after a series of defeats. Five
years of uneasy peace followed while the
Danes were occupied in other parts of
England. In 876 the Danes attacked again, and
in 878 Alfred was forced to retire to the
stronghold of Athelney, from where he finally
emerged to win the victory of Edington,
Wiltshire. By the Peace of Wedmore 878 the
Danish leader Guthrum (died 890) agreed to
withdraw from Wessex and from Mercia west of
Watling Street. A new landing in Kent
encouraged a revolt of the East Anglian
Danes, which was suppressed 884-86, and after
the final foreign invasion was defeated
892-96, Alfred strengthened the navy to
prevent fresh incursions.