What do you know about King Alfred?

Answer

What do you know about King Alfred?

Alfred the Great or King Alfred (c. 849 – 899) is called the “Father of English Prose.” He was the king of Wessex (871-886) and king of Anglo-Saxons (886-899). People called him “Alfred the Great” because he did many good things. He fought for his country, made England strong, and helped people learn. 

Reign of King Alfred: The Vikings attacked England again and again. They burned villages and took land. People were scared. In 878 AD, the Vikings attacked very hard. Alfred hid in Somerset and gathered his army to fight back. He won a big battle at Edington. After that, he made a peace deal with the Vikings leader Guthrum. Alfred also built forts and strong walls in many towns. This made it hard for the Vikings to attack.

Major Literary Works: Alfred wanted people to read and write. At that time, most books were in Latin. Only a few people could read them. Alfred translated important books like “Pastoral Care” and “The History of the World” into English. As a result, more people could read and learn. He says,

“The saddest thing about any man is that he be ignorant, and the most exciting thing is that he knows.”

He also started schools for boys. He believed leaders should be educated. Alfred began writing the book “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.” It recorded the history of England. Later, monks continued writing it for many years. Because of this, we know many things about old England today.

Contribution to England: Alfred wanted England to be safe and well-organized. He made new laws so people could live peacefully. He also built new warships to protect England from attacks at sea. Many people called him the father of the English navy because of this. He improved trade and farming. This helped people have more food and a better life. 

In short, King Alfred was a brave and wise king. He saved England from the Vikings, built a strong army, and helped