Alfred the Great (r. 871-899) was the king of Wessex in Britain but came to be known as King of the Anglo-Saxons after his military victories over Viking adversaries and later successful negotiations with them. He is the best-known Anglo-Saxon king in British history thanks to his biographer Asser (died c. 909) and that work's impact on later writers.
More about: Alfred the GreatDefinition
Timeline
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849 - 899Life of King Alfred the Great.
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865 - 871Alfred the Great serves as military commander under his brother King Aethelred I against Viking raiders.
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871Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex following Aethelred I's death.
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871 - 899Reign of King Alfred the Great of Wessex.
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4 Jan 871The Battle of Reading in which West Saxon forces under King Aethelred and Prince Albert (later Alfred the Great) tried to drive the Great Heathen Army of the Danes out of the region. The West Saxon attempt failed and led to Alfred's policy of paying the Danes to keep the peace.
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c. 874 - c. 877The future Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Elder is born.
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878Vikings take Chippenham in surprise attack; Alfred driven into exile.
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878Alfred mobilizes his forces and defeats Vikings at the Battle of Eddington.
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6 May 878The Battle of Eddington begins as the West Saxon army under King Alfred the Great meets the Great Heathen Army of the Danes led by Guthrum, ending in a decisive victory for Alfred on 12 May that stopped the Viking conquest of Wessex.
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c. 880 - c. 886Alfred implements his famous reforms of military, law, education, and infrastructure of Britain.
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886Alfred takes London from the Vikings; is recognized as king outside of Wessex.
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899Death of Alfred the Great; succeeded by his son Edward the Elder.
