King Alfred the Great
against Danish invasion
and founded the first
English navy
·He encouraged the
translation of scholarly
works from Latin and
promoted the
development of the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
·A new legal code came
into force during his
reign.
·At the age of 19 in 868
he is recorded as fighting
beside his brother in
Mercia against the Danes
In 878, the Danes under their leader,
Guthrum overran Wessex.
Alfred and his remnants went into
hiding.
At Easter time in 879, Alfred set up a
base in the region of Athelney.
The great Saxon kingdoms of
England had been reduced to one
man who ruled a small area of
swamp.
It was from this hidden base in the
swamps that King Alfred became
Alfred the Great
Alfred sent messages to those
fighting men that were still loyal to
him. Seven weeks after taking refuge
at Athelney, Alfred emerged from the
swamps with a new army.
Guthrum surrendered to Alfred and
even accepted baptism with Alfred as
his Godfather
annaabi.ee 
