They retired in 877 having accomplished little, but a surprise attack in January 878 came near to success. In 876 the Danes again advanced on Wessex. Alfred had no opportunity to acquire the education he sought, however, until much later in life. It is possible also that he was aware of and admired the great Frankish king Charlemagne, who had at the beginning of the century revived learning in his realm. His mother early aroused his interest in English poetry, and from his boyhood he also hankered after Latin learning, possibly stimulated by visits to Rome in 853 and 855. Perhaps a scholar’s life would have contented him. When he was born, it must have seemed unlikely that Alfred would become king, since he had four older brothers he said that he never desired royal power.

Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Learn more.Īlfred, also spelled Aelfred, byname Alfred the Great, (born 849-died 899), king of Wessex (871–899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!Īlfred considered learning and literacy to be crucial for the acquisition of wisdom and therefore necessary for men to live in accordance with God’s will. During his reign he insisted that freedmen of adequate means learn to read English, and he himself translated Latin texts into the vernacular for the benefit of his people.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.

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