Cultural depictions of Alfred the Great facts for kids

Statue of Alfred the Great by Hamo Thornycroft in Winchester. This statue helps us imagine what Alfred might have been like, even though we don't have his real picture.

Alfred the Great was an Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex, a kingdom in southern England. He ruled from 871 to 899. During his time, fierce invaders called Vikings had taken over much of England. King Alfred bravely defended his kingdom and won a big battle against the Vikings at Edington in 878. This victory was very important for England's future.

Most of what we know about Alfred comes from a book called Life of King Alfred. A Welsh monk named Asser wrote it while Alfred was still alive. This book was the first life story written about an English ruler! Many years later, people started calling Alfred "the Great" because they saw him as an ideal Christian king. He became a hero who inspired many stories, artworks, and plays, especially during the Victorian era. This page shows you how Alfred has been shown in art, books, movies, and even video games.

Why is King Alfred so Famous?

Alfred was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. His father and three older brothers died before he became king in 871. For the first seven years of his rule, Alfred fought against the Vikings. He finally defeated the powerful Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edington in 878 AD. After this, the Vikings settled in an area of eastern England called the Danelaw.

Alfred then made his kingdom stronger. He improved the army and built 33 'burhs', which were fortified towns. He also designed and built a small fleet of longships to protect against more Viking attacks. His children, Æthelflæd and Edward the Elder, later continued to take back land from Viking control. Alfred's reign is often seen as the start of the list of English monarchs.

Alfred's Focus on Learning and Law

King Alfred brought smart people to his court from different places. One of them was the monk Asser, who wrote Alfred's life story. Asser showed Alfred as a wise and good Christian ruler. Alfred's time as king was also important for learning. He had many books translated from Latin into Old English, the language spoken then. He believed everyone should be able to read important works.

Alfred also made changes to education. He wanted people to learn in English, not just Latin. He started schools to train future priests and government workers. This helped them make better decisions. He also created a new law code and started the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This was a collection of records that kept track of historical events in England.

How Alfred Became "the Great"

Even though Asser wrote about Alfred as a saintly figure, Alfred was never officially made a saint. However, later historians still wrote good things about him. In the 1500s, during the English Reformation, Alfred became a symbol for the new English Protestant church. People liked that he encouraged English over Latin.

Around this time, more than 600 years after his death, Alfred was first called "the Great." People admired his patriotism, his success against the Vikings, and his support for education and law. He became a hero who inspired many works of art and culture. During the time of Queen Victoria, Alfred was seen as the founder of the English nation. The name 'Alfred' even became popular, and Queen Victoria named her second son Prince Alfred.

Art and Sculpture: Seeing Alfred Through Time

We don't have any pictures of Alfred from his own time, except on his coins.

A silver coin from King Alfred's reign.

A picture of Alfred the Great from the 1200s.

Artists started creating images of King Alfred mostly from the 1700s to the early 1900s. He was often shown as a symbol of England: a brave military leader, a smart scholar, and a fair judge. Many paintings showed famous stories about him, like Alfred disguised in the Viking camp or Alfred burning the peasant woman's cakes.

King Alfred's bust at the ‘Temple of British Worthies’ at Stowe House (1734–1735).	Alfred in the Isle of Athelney, hearing about a victory over the Danes (1751 print).	An 18th-century portrait of Alfred by Samuel Woodforde.	From Thomas Mante's Naval and Military History of the Wars of England (1800).
King Alfred painted on the ceiling of St. Mary's Church, Beverley.	King Alfred the Great in a stained glass window at Bristol Cathedral.	An Eastern Orthodox Ikon of King St. Alfred the Great.	A 19th-century painting of King Alfred (The Great).
Statue of Alfred the Great at Wantage, Berkshire (1877).	Alfred the Great at the Battle of Ashdown by Morris Meredith Williams (1913).	The Boyhood of Alfred the Great (1913).	Alfred the Great in the Danish invaders' camp (1904).

Alfred in Books and Stories

King Alfred has been the subject of many historical books and fictional stories.

Historical Books About Alfred

Here are some early historical books that mention Alfred:

Fictional Stories About Alfred

Alfred appears in many novels, often showing his bravery and wisdom:

Alfred on Stage and Screen

Alfred has also been featured in plays, operas, and TV shows.

Plays and Operas About Alfred

Alfred in Movies and TV Shows

You can see Alfred in these films and television series:

Alfred in Video Games

Alfred also appears in several video games:

• In the 2018 strategy game Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia, Alfred is the leader for the kingdom of Wessex.
• In the 2020 action game Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Alfred leads Wessex against the Vikings. He is a main character who secretly works to change a powerful organization.
• Alfred appears in the Crusader Kings strategy games (Crusader Kings II and Crusader Kings III). In these games, he starts as a nobleman before becoming king.

Education: Schools Named After Alfred

Statue of King Alfred at Alfred University.

Many schools and universities are named in honor of King Alfred:

• The University of Winchester used to be called King Alfred's College.
• Alfred University and Alfred State College in New York are named after him. The local phone number even starts with 871, which is the year Alfred became king!
• The University of Liverpool has a special "King Alfred Chair of English Literature."
• King Alfred's Academy is a secondary school in Wantage, which was Alfred's birthplace.
• King's Lodge School in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is named because Alfred's hunting lodge might have been there.
• The King Alfred School in Highbridge is named due to its closeness to important historical sites.
• The King Alfred School in Barnet, North London.
• King Alfred's house at Bishop Stopford's School at Enfield.

Military: Ships Honoring Alfred

The Royal Navy has named one ship and two shore bases HMS King Alfred. One of the first ships of the US Navy was also named USS Alfred in his honor.