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In the year 871, England was in trouble. For decades the country had been slowly

taken over by the Danes. Fierce Viking Raiders led by their warrior king

Guthraim. The Danes controlled most to break. Viking Raiders led by their warrior king, Guthro.

The Danes controlled most to Britain, and the Anglo-Saxon natives were confined to the small southern kingdom of Wessex.

Education had ground to a halt. Commerce was continually disrupted by Danish raiders.

The country was indefensible and in total disarray.

Wessex was ruled by a very young king with little experience.

When Alfred took the throne on April 23rd, 871, he was just 22 years old and he suffered from poor health.

But unlike most monarchs at the time,

Alfred had a great vision for his country. He saw the key to securing the future was not

brutally oppressing his neighbors but in creating a society of learning, prosperity, and strong defenses.

Young Alford reorganized the Army for greater effectiveness and fought bravely against the Danes.

Even better, he created a Navy to combat the Dane's greatest advantage,

Sea Power. It took time, but Alfred's vision for the country became a reality.

In 878, he won the decisive Battle of Eddington, securing a final victory over Guthram and his forces.

That's where Alfred showed his true greatness. Rather than taking revenge, he was merciful.

He treated Guthram as an equal and allowed his former enemies to continue

occupying a portion of the British island. Under Alfred's visionary reign, Anglo-Saxon

England experienced a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.

...