If there is one moment, or one single event that made Alfred great, this would be it. After inheriting the throne in 871 to the defense of Wessex against a “Great Heathen Army” (Tombs Pg. 30), Alfred forced them to retreat. But, in 875 the Danes (led by Guthrum) launched a new offensive, forcing Alfred to flee to the marches of Athelney in Somerset (Tombs. Pg. 30).
It’s what happens after Alfred’s flee that makes him the legend we still speak of, even today. Alfred called upon all the saxons to fight the common enemy, and meet him at Egbert’s Stone. 3 armies from 3 counties made it; Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire; to fight the Danes. This was before the battle of Edington which ended in a decisive victory and a treaty between the Danes, and Alfred.
Little known, or at least unknown to me, fact: Guthrum pledged to be Alfred’s adoptive son after the Defeat. Alfred gave Guthrum the “Danelaw” and he agreed to stay there and not attack Alfred’s forces ever again. He actually played by those rules, for the most part, till he died; by then known as Aethelstan. Now, the Baptism, I will cover on the next blog, but this next fact I found to be harder to research fully. Just know that, Alfred literally made Guthrum his son. Yes, Guthrum became Alfred’s adoptive son. WOW. Pretty brutal, and a good indication of why Alfred remains “Great”.
Sources:
Discenza, Nicole Guenther, and Paul Edward. Szarmach. A Companion to Alfred the Great. Brill, 2015.
Tombs, Robert. The English and Their History.
Vintage Books. New York City, 2016.
Alfred The Great 