King Alfred: The Unlikely Monarch

King Alfred was the youngest of six. He had four brothers and a sister. In any royal family, the chance for the sixth child to become the monarch was very slim. He likely did not even think he’d become king and was probably planning on entering the Church.

When he and his father, Aethelwulf, went to Rome, his oldest two brothers were placed in charge of Wessex and Kent. Upon his return, they refused to step down and Aethelwulf lived out his life sharing Wessex with Aethelbald, his second eldest son.

His eldest brother, Aethelstan, died without inheriting the throne of Wessex. The Chronicles do not included any details about his death or when it was.

His sister, the second child, married the King of Mercia and became a queen.

After King Alfred’s father died, he was succeeded by Aethelbald. Aethelberht, the third son, was given the Kingdom of Kent. There is not much written about Aethelbald and he died after reigning for only 5 years, leaving no children.

So Aethelberht began to rule and reunited the kingdoms of Wessex and Kent. During this time, the Viking attacks rose in frequency. Previously, they had always happened intermittently, but now the intensity had increased . Having said this, the Chronicle says he ruled over a time of peace. He died after 5 years on the throne, and like the previous king, left no children.

So the kingship fell to Aethelred I. And at this time, the Great Heathen Army arrived in England. This force was made up of Danes, Norwegians and Swedes.

In AD 870, the Vikings began to attack the Kingdom of Wessex. King Aethelred and Alfred marched up to Reading to dislodge them and push them out of the kingdom. They killed many of the intruders, but as soon they reached the gates of the town, the Vikings rushed out and bested the Anglo-Saxon army. It is said that Alfred and King Aethelred only escaped because of their knowledge of the terrain.

A few days later, both armies met at Ashdown and conflict ensued. Unfortunately, at the moment of battle, King Aethelred was in a tent attending mass. He refused to cut the ceremony short and so Alfred led the army in battle, without his brother, the king.

Despite the king’s delay, Alfred led a successful battle and many leading Vikings were killed.

Within the year, Aethelred was dead. We don’t know what he died of, but he left two male heirs. But as they were only children at this time, it was decide Alfred would become king.

We don’t know what life has in store for us, but we can make sure we are prepared. We can foster the right attitudes, focus our attention on trying to make the best decisions and ultimately trust in God.