King Alfred

Group project for Anglo-Saxon Literature at Utah Valley University.

Professor: Dr. Rick McDonald

Group members: Chris, Jeanie, Brandon, & Paul Spring semester 2010

King Alfred the Great

King Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd, pronounced [ˈælfreːd]) (c. 849 – 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings, becoming the only English King to be awarded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself " King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are discussed in a work by the Welsh scholar Asser. Alfred was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved his kingdom's law system as well as its military structure.

LINKS:

Royal Family Tree:

http://www.britroyals.com/royaltree.htm

Wessex Family Tree:

http://www.britroyals.com/wessex.htm

King Alfred and the Cakes:

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Alfred_the_Great.htm

Family Father: Ethelwulf Mother: Osburga Brother: King Ethelbald Brother: King Ethelbert Brother: King Ethelred I Offspring
Reign	23 April 871 – 26 October 899
Predecessor	Æthelred of Wessex
Successor	Edward the Elder
Spouse	Ealhswith
Ælfthryth AEthelflaed Ethelgiva Edward the Elder Æthelwærd
Full name
Ælfrēd of Wessex
Royal house	House of Wessex
Father	Æthelwulf of Wessex
Mother	Osburga
Born	c. 849 Wantage, Berkshire
Died	26 October 899 (around 50)
Burial	c. 1100 Winchester, Hampshire, now lost.

The tale of the griddle-cakes. It is this time, at the low ebb of Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Danes, that is commemorated in the folk tale of Alfred and the griddle cakes. The story goes that Alfred was so low in his fortunes that he was forced to travel anonymously and seek lodging in a peasant woman's hut. Told to mind the cakes cooking on the fire, Alfred let his thoughts wander to his troubles. The cakes burned, and the peasant woman gave her king a good scolding for his carelessness. True or not, (probably not, but it sounds good), the story illustrates the depth to which the young Alfred had sunk in his battle with the Danish invaders. From that point on, however, things began to look up.