Lineage – John Edward Black to Alfred “The Great,” King of England
King of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex and one of the outstanding figures of English history, as much for his social and educational reforms as for his military successes against the Danes. He is the only English monarch known as ‘the Great’.
Alfred was born at Wantage in Oxfordshire in 849, fourth or fifth son of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. Following the wishes of their father, the sons succeeded to the kingship in turn. At a time when the country was under threat from Danish raids, this was aimed at preventing a child inheriting the throne with the related weaknesses in leadership. In 870 AD the Danes attacked the only remaining independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Wessex, whose forces were commanded by Alfred’s older brother, King Aethelred, and Alfred himself.
In 871 AD, Alfred defeated the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown in Berkshire. The following year, he succeeded his brother as king. Despite his success at Ashdown, the Danes continued to devastate Wessex and Alfred was forced to withdraw to the Somerset marshes, where he continued guerrilla warfare against his enemies. In 878 AD, he again defeated the Danes in the Battle of Edington. They made peace and Guthrum, their king, was baptised with Alfred as his sponsor. In 886 AD, Alfred negotiated a treaty with the Danes. England was divided, with the north and the east (between the Rivers Thames and Tees) declared to be Danish territory – later known as the ‘Danelaw’. Alfred therefore gained control of areas of West Mercia and Kent which had been beyond the boundaries of Wessex.
Alfred built up the defences of his kingdom to ensure that it was not threatened by the Danes again. He reorganised his army and built a series of well-defended settlements across southern England. He also established a navy for use against the Danish raiders who continued to harass the coast.
As an administrator Alfred advocated justice and order and established a code of laws and a reformed coinage. He had a strong belief in the importance of education and learnt Latin in his late thirties. He then arranged, and himself took part in, the translation of books from Latin to Anglo-Saxon.
By the 890s, Alfred’s charters and coinage were referring to him as ‘king of the English’. He died in October 899 AD and was buried at his capital city of Winchester.
Biography of “Alfred the Great”
Relationship Report
for
John Edward BLACK
and
Alfred “The Great” King Of England b.849
——————————————————————————————
Alfred “The Great” King Of England is the 38th great-grandfather
of John Edward BLACK.
Lines of Descent from
Alfred “The Great” King Of England
—————————– / ———— \ —————————————
Alfred “The Great” King Of England b.849
Baldwin Ii OF FLANDERS b.865
Arnulf I Count of Flanders b.890
Baldwin Iii Count of Flanders b.940
Arnulf Ii Count of Flanders b.960
Baldwin Iv Count of Flanders b.980
Baldwin V Count of Flanders b.1012
Robert Le Frison OF FLANDERS b.1032
Gertrude OF FLANDERS Duchess of Lorraine b.1070
Adélaide DE LEUVEN b.1090
Agatha Princess of LORRAINE b.1119
Beatrice I Countess of Burgundy b.1143
Duke Philipp VON HOHENSTAUFEN b.1177
Maria VON HOHENSTAUFFEN b.1201
Mathilde DE BRABANT Comtesse d’Artois b.1224
Blanche of Artois Queen of Navarre b.1248
Henry PLANTAGENET 3rd Earl Of Lancaster b.1281
Eleanor PLANTAGENET Countess of Arundel b.1318
Alice FITZALAN b.1352
Lady Eleanor de Holland b.1370
Joan CHERLETON b.1358
Arnold Ii ST. LEGER b.1378
John de SAINT LEGER , Sheriff Of Kent b.1399
Philippa de ST. LEGER b.1430
Reynold John DE PYMPE b.1448
Anne PYMPE b.1460
Elisabeth GUILDFORD b.1490
Elizabeth ISLEY b.1508
Henry HILL b.1530
Elizabeth HILL b.1560
Mary BUCKETT b.1602
John SOULE Sr. b.1632
John SOULE Jr. b.1675
Sarah SOULE b.1703
Samuel SNOW b.1729
Samuel SNOW Jr b.1752
Ebenezer SNOW b.1784
Bernard SNOW b.1822
Minnie SNOW b.1869
Mary Beatrice DASTRUP b.1902
John Edward BLACK