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Historical Figure

Alfred the Great

Monarchs and Rulers

Alfred the Great was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King AEthelwulf, and three of his brothers reigned in turn before him. After ascending the throne he fought years of Viking invasions, winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington in 878 and then dividing England between Anglo-Saxon territory and the Viking-ruled Danelaw. He oversaw the conversion of the Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity and became the dominant ruler in England, styling himself King of the Anglo-Saxons after reoccupying London in 886. He had a reputation as a learned and merciful ruler who encouraged education and improved the legal system, and he is the only native-born English monarch to carry the epithet the Great.

Facts
Birth Year
849 1
Sources vary between 847 and 849 for his birth year; the article infobox gives the range 847-849.
Death Year
899 1
Role
King of the West Saxons (871-886) and King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899) 1
Death Date
0899-10-26 1
Birthplace
Wantage, Berkshire, Kingdom of Wessex (in modern Oxfordshire) 1
Death Place
Winchester, Hampshire, Kingdom of Wessex 1
Classification
Gender
Male 1
Role
Role (category)
Monarch / Royalty 1
Connections

Associated With

The Anglo-Saxon Period, Eras
The Kingdom of England, Polities

Alfred defended Wessex against the Vikings and began the administrative, military and legal reforms later built into the unified Kingdom of England achieved by his descendants.

Source Wikipedia: Alfred the Great

In Era

The Post-Classical and Medieval Period, Eras
Source Wikipedia: Alfred the Great
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Alfred the Great
Wikipedia
  • Infobox, birth_date field
    847-849
  • Lead sentence, parenthetical date
    26 October 899
  • Infobox, birth_place field
    Wantage, Berkshire,
  • Infobox, death_place field
    Winchester, Hampshire, Wessex
  • Lead section, REST summary extract
    Alfred the Great was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899.
  • Alfred the Great: Gender
    Alfred the Great was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899.
  • In Era: The Post-Classical and Medieval Period, lead paragraph, lifespan
    Infobox: born 847-849; died 26 October 899 (aged c. 50-52)
View the Source
Wikidata: Alfred the Great
Wikidata Q83476, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source

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