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Questions and Answers
Alfred was born in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia which was located in the northwest of England.
False
Alfred's father, Aethelwulf, was king of Mercia and Alfred grew up as a prince.
False
Alfred became his brother's second in command in 878.
False
Alfred thought he had finally achieved some kind of peace with the Vikings in 878.
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Alfred was recognized by the peasant woman when he took refuge in her home.
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Alfred forgot to watch the cakes and they burned because he was focused on the war with the Vikings.
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The Vikings were expelled from Britain after Alfred's peace treaty.
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Alfred was only a great leader in battle and not in peacetime.
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Alfred's grandson Aethelstan was the first King of England.
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Alfred established a national code of law and rebuilt monasteries during his reign.
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Study Notes
Early Life of Alfred the Great
- Alfred was born in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, located in southwest England.
- His father, Aethelwulf, was king of Wessex, and Alfred grew up as a prince.
- Alfred was an intelligent child who loved to learn and memorize poems.
- He traveled to Rome as a child, where he met the pope and was anointed as an honorary consul of Rome.
Fighting the Vikings
- The Vikings had been raiding England throughout much of Alfred's life.
- In 870, the Vikings had conquered all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except for Wessex.
- Alfred became his brother's second in command and led the Wessex army to a great victory at the Battle of Ashdown.
Becoming King
- In 871, Alfred's brother Aethelred died in one of the battles, and Alfred was crowned king.
- Alfred fought off the Vikings and thought they had finally achieved some kind of peace in 878.
- However, the Danish King Guthrum led a surprise attack against Alfred, and he was forced to escape with only a few men.
Counterattack and Peace with the Vikings
- Alfred fled to Athelney, where he plotted his counterattack and rallied the men of Wessex.
- With his new army, Alfred counterattacked the Vikings, defeated King Guthrum, and took back his stronghold at Chippenham.
- Alfred required the Vikings to convert to Christianity and established a peace treaty where the Vikings would remain on the eastern side of Britain, known as the Danelaw.
Ruling as King
- Alfred was a great leader in battle and peacetime, rebuilding his kingdom after the war.
- He founded schools, rebuilt monasteries, and translated classic works from Latin into English himself.
- Alfred also made other reforms and improvements to his kingdom, including building forts, establishing a strong navy, and bringing talented European scholars and craftsmen to England.
- He established a national code of law and died in 899, succeeded by his son Edward.
Interesting Facts
- Alfred's grandson, Aethelstan, would later be called the first King of England.
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Description
Learn about the early life and biography of Alfred the Great, the king of Wessex in the Middle Ages. This quiz is designed for kids and covers Alfred's childhood, education, and his meetings with the pope.
