The New Murrey and Blue blog

Did you know that Richard was a direct descendent of Alfred the Great? Here is the pedigree, derived from the Genealogics website. This time you need to follow the pink circles.

Although most people ‘know’ that Alfred is famous for burning some cakes that he was asked to watch, this is fallacious. It’s likely the story was invented to show Alfred’s humilty and willingness to muck in with menial tasks.

Born in 849 in Wantage, Berkshire, to King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his wife, Osburh, Alfred was the youngest of five sons, but his intelligence, curiosity, and leadership skills set him apart. He is reputed to have travelled to Rome aged just four, where he met and was blessed by the Pope. He became king in 871 after the death of his brother, Ethelred, and is generally accepted as the first king of Anglo-Saxon England.

Military Campaigns and Viking Wars

• Alfred faced numerous Viking invasions and raids, which threatened the stability of Wessex.
• He won several key battles, including the Battle of Edington in 878, which led to the Treaty of Wedmore and established a boundary between Wessex and the Danelaw (Viking-controlled territories).
• Alfred also implemented a network of fortifications, known as burhs, to defend his kingdom.

Reforms and Legacy

• Alfred established a unified system of law and justice.
• He promoted education and literacy through the establishment of schools and the translation of Latin texts into Anglo-Saxon.
• He encouraged trade and commerce.
• He also sponsored the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals that recorded the history of England.

Personal Life and Later Years

• Alfred married Ealhswith, a Mercian noblewoman, and had several children, including his successor, Edward the Elder.
• He suffered from poor health throughout his life, particularly from a condition that may have been Crohn’s disease.
• Alfred died on October 26, 899, and was buried in Winchester.

Alfred’s legacy is that of a wise and just ruler who strengthened his kingdom, promoted learning and culture, and laid the foundations for a unified England. He remains one of the most celebrated figures in English history.

Can you see any similarities between Alfred and his descendant, Richard?