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Alfred the Great (also spelled Ælfred; c. 849 - 26 October 899) was Kin g o f t h e W e st Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 8 8 6 u n t i l his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf an d h i s f i r st wife Osburh, who both died when Alfred was young. Three of A l f r e d 's brothers, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, reigned in turn b e f o r e h im. Under Alfred's rule, considerable administrative and militar y r e f o r ms were introduced, prompting lasting change in England.[2]
After ascending the throne, Alfred spent several years fighting Viking i n v a s i ons. He won a decisive victory in the Battle of Edington in 878 an d m a d e a n a greement with the Vikings, dividing England between Anglo-Sa xo n t e r r itory and the Viking-ruled Danelaw, composed of Scandinavian Yo r k, t h e n o rth-east Midlands and East Anglia. Alfred also oversaw the co n ve r s i on of Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity. He defended his king d o m a g a inst the Viking attempt at conquest, becoming the dominant ruler i n E n g l a nd.[3] Alfred began styling himself as "King of the Anglo-Saxons " a f t e r r eoccupying London from the Vikings. Details of his life are de sc r i b e d in a work by 9th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser.
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849 - 899 (50 years)
