![]() ![]() ![]() One day, the legend says, the swineherd’s wife asked Alfred to watch some cakes she was baking. Alfred and the CakesĪlfred arrived at Athelney in disguise and took refuge in a swineherd’s cottage. ![]() The Legends of AlfredĪlfred’s time at Athelney generated three popular legends, all of which were established by the 11th century. Soon after his defeat of the Vikings he founded an abbey there. He later went on to become ruler of neighbouring Mercia and by that means laid the foundations of what would become the kingdom of England.Īlfred never forgot the refuge that Athelney provided for him when all seemed lost. The Kingdom of EnglandĪlfred built strategic forts to defend his kingdom including one at Lyng which was described as ‘a formidable fortress of elegant workmanship’. A few days later the king honoured Guthrum and his companions with gifts at Wedmore. Peace was finally achieved when Guthrum, leader of the Vikings, joined Alfred at Aller, near Althelney, and was baptised as a Christian. He was joined by the men of Somerset, Wiltshire and part of Hampshire, and together they put the Vikings to flight in a great battle at Edington in Wiltshire. When much of Wessex was overrun Alfred was driven into hiding at Athelney, in the marshlands of central Somerset.Įarly in May 878 Alfred mounted a counterattack. From the beginning he faced Viking attempts to invade his kingdom and in January 878 one such invasion took Alfred by surprise. King of the West SaxonsĪlfred became King of the West Saxons in 871 when he was in his early 20s. An important part of his remarkable story is set in Somerset. Alfred is the only one of our kings or queens to whose name the word ‘great’ has been added. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |