Alfred King of ENGLAND, THE GREAT

                   Alfred The Great (849-899) was king of the West Saxons in England.  He
saved his country, Wessex from Danish conquest, laid the basis for the
unification of England under the West Saxon monarchy, and led a revival of
learning and literature.  He was such an outstanding leader in both war and
peace that he was called THE GREAT. Alred was born in Wantage in Berkshire.
As a boy he was curious and eager to learn.  There is a story that his
mother offered a prize to the first of her 5 sons who learned to read.
Alfred, the youngest, won the prize, a book of Anglo-Saxon poems.  Before he
was 7, he had traveled to Rome twice and was confirmed by Pope Leo IV.  These
travels impressed upon young Alfred the contrast between the civilized parts
of Europe and his more backward England. Alfred became king after the death
of his 4th brother.  The west Saxons had been at war with the Danes for
many years.  After several loosing battles, Alfred made peace with the
invaders.  But the Danes renewed their attacks 4 years later and defeated
Alfred at Battle of of Chippenham. Alfred finally defeated the Danes at
the Battle of Eddington in 878. Alfred won his greatest military victory, the
Battle of London in 886. All the English people, both in and out of Wessex,
who were not subject to the Danes, recognized Alfred as their King and paid
him homage.  He built forts at strategic points & stationed fleet of ships along
the coast to protect his kingdom against invasion.
Alfred was one of the greatest men in history.  He founed the British Navy ,
organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monastery and
invited scholars to live at his court.  He wsas a good scholar and translated
many books.  He was succeeded by his son.
LDS ordinances taken from Ancestral File.