ALFRED THE GREAT

ALFRED THE GREAT

Upon the death of Aethelred in 871, he was succeeded by his brother Alfred. The situation was dire, with most of England under the control of the Norsemen.

East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria had all fallen and Wessex was in severe danger. After fighting a guerrilla campaign for a time, Alfred managed to inflict a severe defeat on the Norsemen at the Battle of Edington in 878. This allowed negotiation of a border agreement, but it is unlikely it would have remained in force if Alfred had not greatly strengthened the defences of his kingdom.

On land, Alfred implemented new rules for military service, enabling him to maintain higher force levels than previously and to get troops to a trouble spot quickly. To impede raids, he created a system of fortified towns called burghs. These would not withstand the assault of a major army but would be an obstacle to a large raiding party. This deprived the Norsemen of easy targets and created fortified bases for Alfred’s army to operate from.

The threat of landings on the coast or penetrations inland using rivers was mitigated by a fleet of ships. These were not intended for long, open-water voyages like those of the Norsemen and could optimize combat capability over seaworthiness. The force proved effective in action, limiting the ability of the Norsemen to raid where they pleased and draw off Alfred’s forces. Instead of fruitlessly chasing raiders who were already on the way back to their ships, Alfred could concentrate on dealing with major threats.

Alfred the Great was seen as a defender not only of the English people but of the Christian faith from the pagan Norsemen. This was a rallying point for those who might have political differences with the English king, and with a common enemy came the beginnings of national unity. Alfred was also a lawgiver who understood the need for knowledge and study among those who would rule effectively. His legend was no doubt inflated by his chroniclers, but his example of piety, wisdom and organizational ability was emulated by many who came after.