Few kings in English history deserve the title ₁great₂ more than Alfred, King of Wessex. In an age and country devastated by Viking invasions, Alfred inflicted a major defeat upon the Norseman at Edington in 878 A.D. and set about conquering the Danelaw territory to secure the unity of England. The great king also organized his forces into a standing army and built a navy. However, Alfred was not only a fine warrior and a natural leader; he was also a lawmaker and a scholar, working to improve the kingdom's laws as well as encouraging the further education of his people.
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