Page 13 - Alfred the Great And His Legacy

Reason One For His “Greatness” – An Exceptional

Military Leader But Also Astute

• All of his brothers became king when his father died but they all died young.

• When Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex in 871, aged 21,

all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had fallen to the Vikings, except Wessex & Mercia.

• Alfred immediately had to defend Wessex from the Vikings. He fought 6

st
battles just in his 1 year on the throne!

• He was a good leader & fighter, & he learnt from experience to employ

advanced tactics in warfare.

• After a series of hard battles, he won a decisive victory over the Vikings at the

Battle of Edington in 878, despite being very outnumbered.