Alfred was Egbert's grandson and ascended the throne in the year of 871 when England's danger was greatest. The Danes who settled on the eastern shores of Britain were murdering and robbing the English population and occupying more and more territory. Alfred gathered a big army and gave the Danes a great battle at Maldon in 891. Despite the fact that the Danes were defeated in this battle they still remained an enormous threat to England. That's why Alfred hurried to make peace with them. He had to give the Danes the greater portion of England. The kingdom that was left in Alfred's possession was Wessex. There were some years of peace and during that time Alfred built the first English navy. Alfred was the only king of England who held the title "the Great" And he really deserved it. The monarch was very well educated for that time. He learned to read and write when he was quite young. He travelled to the continent and visited France. He knew Latin. He is also famous for having tried to enlighten his subjects. Apart from that the king worked out a code of laws. Furthermore Alfred translated the Church history and parts of the Bible from Latin into Anglo - Saxon. He started the famous Anglo - Saxon Chronicle which is the first history of England. It begins with the history of the early Britons. This Chronicle was continued by various authors for 250 after Alfred's death.
