King Alfred the Great
King Alfred ruled England from 871-899.
He knew that the prosperity of England was possible if the people were learned. He provided the people with literature that he thought was fundamental to their welfare, like Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Many of these books had to be translated; nevertheless King Alfred the Great is known as the founder of English prose.
The onslaught of the Vikings' second wave happened shortly before Alfred became king. He defeated the Danish king, Gunthrum and together they drew up the Treaty of Wedmore, which was important because it included the Danelaw. The Danes were able to live in the northeastern part of England if they accepted Christianity. The Danelaw just meant that the territory that was occupied by the Danes would follow the Danish laws. English still contains traces of Danish words in its language.
helpful sites
Alfred, the Great British Monarch
King Alfred the Great
