Alfred the Great

King Alfred the Great is one of the most famous of English Kings. He lived in Saxon times and is famous for his victories over the Vikings and for beginning to organise Britain.

King Alfred was the youngest son of King Aethelwulf. Yet by the time he was 20 all of his older brothers had been killed in battle against the Vikings and Alfred was King of Wessex. Alfred helped win the Battle of Ashdown but was soon himself beaten in battle and forced to pay the Vikings money to go away. They soon defeated all the other Saxon armies and launched a surprise attack on Alfred who had to go into hiding. Arthur made a secret fort deep in the swamps of Somerset. He then fought back, beating the Vikings in the Battle of Edington. He then made peace with the Vikings making them become Christian and forcing them to accept peace. Alfred then ordered forts to be built all around the borders of Wessex. He also made new laws and had them written in books which he sent to all the important people in his kingdom.