The Children of Adam and Eve

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the Death of
his Brother ?helred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a
Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes,
they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early
878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, However,
Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In
the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their
Stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14
years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his
kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterWard he
was recognized as the king of all England.

In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were
Marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from
Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully,
Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the
foundation for the unification of England.

Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his
people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars,
notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born
philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred
translated such Works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman
statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the
Spanish Priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope
Gregory I. Alfred's Laws, the first promulgated in More than a century,
were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh
peoples.