One of the most legendary stories regarding Alfred is during his exile in Somerset marsh. Allegedly, he was tasked with watching a set of cakes cooking by the person with whom he was staying. He lost track of time, and let the cakes burn. He was, obviously, pre-occupied with the idea of chasing out a Danish invasion, this story doesn’t give much in the realm of understanding what made Alfred great, but it does offer a little humanizing aspect to the man, the myth, the legend. A legend nearly as big but far more real than King Arthur.
Alfred The Great 