How did Alfred beat off this Viking threat and save England?

Alfred later founded an abbey on this site which had provided him with sanctuary at his lowest point. He established himself at Athelney, essentially an island in the marshes, where he is believed to have gathered his strength and engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Vikings. The legend of Alfred absentmindedly burning some cakes, while pondering his kingdom’s predicament, relates to this time spent in the marshes. Where do we get the story of Alfred and the cakes from? No, following conflict in Dorset and Devon, at the beginning of 878 Alfred was forced to flee with his family and only a small force, to the Somerset marshes after a surprise attack by Vikingsĥ. 4.Did he win almost all his battles as Asser tells us? He also tells us that, starting a few years before he became king, Alfred suffered from a mysterious yet distressing illness. Was he always a tough soldier?Īlfred’s biographer Asser, a Welsh monk, depicts Alfred as the favourite, most studious child. The throne was nevertheless achieved in in 871, when the last surviving of Alfred’s brothers, Æthelred, died a few months after the Battle of Ashdown. Although he was the son of the king of Wessex, Æthelwulf, who had himself inflicted a famous defeat on Viking forces at the Battle of Aclea in 851, Alfred was the youngest of five brothers, and therefore fifth in line to the throne. Keystage 4 outstanding Lessons - free samplesĪn unlikely ruler for a start.Outstanding Lessons at KS1 - Free samples.What to look for in excellent history lessons.

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Alfred the Great by Asser