Alfred the great (old english Alfred had fought in mercia alongside his brother, king æthelred of wessex against the great heathen army in a futile attempt to keep the invaders from advancing any further south. He was the youngest son of king æthelwulf and æthelwulf's first wife osburh, who both died when alfred was young.
He prevented england from falling to the danes and promoted learning and literacy. King alfred was born in 849 ce and was an unlikely candidate for the throne of wessex King alfred the great was the king of wessex from 871 to 899 ce
He became king of wessex after his brother aethelred died in 871, and a new legal code came into force during his reign. King alfred the great was a member of the house of wessex He was the fifth son of king aethelwulf and succeeded his brother aethelred as king in 871 Aethelred’s two sons, were considered too young to rule at a time when wessex was constantly fighting off viking raids.
