Why is Alfred called 'The Great'

Why is Alfred called 'The Great'

1. Fairness

   • Alfred made Good and Fair laws and recorded it in the 'Book of Dooms'
   • He had a council called 'The Witan who advised and helped him.
     • The Witan could choose the next king if there were no heirs.
   • He tried to govern well and fairly

2. Education

   • He founded schools
   • Rebuilt monastries
   • Brought talented European scholars and craftsmen to be teachers to everyone
   • He personally had a very good education and was intelligent
   • He loved to read books and learn poems
     • He memorized a book and recited it to his mother to get the book
   • He had books translated from Latin to English

3. Protection

   • He built forts and walled towns throughout the country, known as BURHS
   • He had a STRONG Navy
   • He split the FRYRD into 2 parts: some stayed home farming and the rest were ready to fight the Vikings
     • He did this so that they were never unprotected
     • This was so that when it was harvest time they had people growing their crops, so they didn't run out of food

4. Peacemaker

   • Alfred made peace with the Vikings
     • Treaty of Wedmore
       • AD886
         • England was divide into two
       • With Danish King Guthrum
         • Guthrum and his army would leave Wessex
         • Important Vikings were left behind as Hostages, in case the Vikings came back they could blackmail them.
         • Guthrum would become a Christian
       • He only had to defeat the Danelaws
   • He was the King of ALL English
     • The south west-Saxon Law

5. Leadership

   • Defeated the Danes, led by Guthrum,in Battle at Edington in 878
     • Unexpected success
   • He fought Vikings even when all hope was lost!
     • Needs to be optimistic and encourage his warriors
   • He was very young but still wise
   • He fought the Vikings most of his life

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