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Principal Events. SUCCEEDS to the throne, at the age of twentytwo.

He is defeated at Wilton by the Danes, from whom, after numerous encounters, he purchases terms of peace.

878. He is forced by Guthrum, a Danish leader, to retire to Athelney, in Somersetshire, the only county which remains faithful to him.

After an interval of some months he defeats the Danes at Ethandune, treating them with generosity, and ceding to Guthrum, who embraced Christianity, a portion of East Anglia,hence called the Danelagh.

880-893. He enjoys several of years peace, during which he restores order to the state, strengthens the defences of his country, repairs London and other cities which had been burnt by the Danes, and attends to the administration of justice.

893. The Danes, after having ravaged the Continent for several years, return under Hastings, a celebrated Northern leader, and fortify Milton in Kent.

894-97. Alfred successively defeats the Danes at Farnham and Bemfleet, at Exeter, and off the Isle of Wight, and finally puts a stop to their incursions.

A.D.

Observations.

THIS prince, who has been justly surnamed the Great, was born at Wantage, in Berkshire, (A.D. 849). When in his fifth year, he was sent by his father to Rome. At this early age he was royally anointed by Leo IV.; a step taken, probably, to secure his accession to the throne in case of the death of his brothers, to the exclusion of their children.

During the first year of his reign, Alfred is said to have fought nine battles with the Danes. Equipping a fleet of one hundred and twenty vessels, he defeated the invaders by sea. For seven years he held possession of the country south of the Thames; but, at length, surprised by the Danes at Chippenham, he retired to a small island formed by the waters of the Thone and the Parret. In this spot, since known as Ethelingay, ("the Isle of the Nobles,") or Athelney, Alfred took refuge for a time in the hut of a cowherd. The occasion of his leaving this retreat was the success of the Ealdorman of Devon over the Danes under Hubba, and the capture of their famous standard "the Raven," when Alfred again put himself at the head of his subjects. From this period, success attended his arms.

During the years of peace which followed, Alfred devoted his great talents to the promotion of the welfare of his subjects. He established a system of militia for the defence of the kingdom, erected strong fortresses, and devoted yearly a portion of his revenue to works for the benefit of his country. He caused a survey of England to be made, the results of which were recorded in what was known as "the Book of Winchester," the model of the famous Domesday Book, compiled two centuries later.

Alfred collected and arranged the laws of former princes, and published them in his "Dom Book,' (Book of Judgments). He is called the "founder of the laws of England," as Edward the Confessor is called their "restorer.'

Under the tuition of his friend and biographer, Asser, and of Phlegmund of Canterbury, Alfred made great progress in learning. At the age of thirty-nine, he acquired the knowledge of Latin. Among the works translated by him from that language into Saxon were "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Boetius, and the "Histories" of Orosius and of Bede. He established schools in most of the great towns, enforced on the nobles the education of their children, and invited to his court men of letters. Among his other claims to our gratitude, he may be justly styled the father of the literature of his country. When we add, that he is said to have fought no fewer than fifty-six battles, and that, from an early age, he suffered from an incurable and painful disease, we may well wonder at the extent of his labours.

It was the custom of Alfred to give eight hours in each day to study and devotion, eight to the affairs of the state, and eight to rest and refreshment.

The charity of this prince was not confined to his own countrymen. An expedition was sent under Bishop Swithelm as far as the coast of Coromandel, which bore the gifts of Alfred to the Eastern Christians.

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Harold Harfager unites the provinces of Norway, and conquers the Orkneys, Shetland, and the Hebrides, (875).

Feudal tenures are made hereditary by Charles the Bald, at the Diet of Kiersy, (877).

Paris is valiantly defended against the Northmen by Eudes and Bishop Goselin, (886).

Final separation of Germany and Italy from France on the death of Charles le Gros, the last descendant of Charlemagne, who bore the title of Emperor of the West. Arnold, son of Carloman, is elected King of Germany, (887).

Foundation by Rudolf I. of the kingdom of Burgundy Transjurane, comprising Switzerland, (888).

Bohemia is first organised by its Duke Borzivoi, who embraces Christianity,

(894).

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Married, ALSWITHE. Issue, EDWARD. Ethelwerd. Ethelfled, married to Ethered of Mercia. Ethelgive, Abbess of Shaftesbury. Alfrithe, married to Baldwin II. of Flanders.

Principal Events.

THE eldest son of Alfred, is the first who exchanges the title of King of the West Saxons for that of King of the English.

905. He is opposed by his cousin Ethelwald, son of Ethelbald, the elder brother of Alfred, who, aided by the Northumbrian Danes, disputes with him the succession to the crown, but is defeated and killed in battle near Bury.

910. Successful over the Danes at Wodnesfield, in Staffordshire, Edward forces them to become tributary to him.

924. He receives the homage of Constantine of Scotland, and of Leofin or Llewellyn of Wales.

He carries on with vigour the plans of his father for the defence of the country, and, after a prosperous reign, leaves the kingdom to Athelstan, his son by Egwine, a shepherd's daughter.

A.D.

Observations.

Ar this time the power of the kings of the West Saxons may be said to have been fully established over the other states of the Octarchy.

Edward was much aided in the government by his sister Ethelfride, who was remarkable for her talents, and who received the title of "Lady," or tributary queen of the Mercians.

The vigorous measures adopted by Alfred and his immediate successors checked the incursions of the Danes, till they were renewed with success under Sweyn, in the reign of Ethelred.

Another cause, probably, of the respite of England from the ravages of the North-men, was their invasion, about this time, of the coast of France. After a fruitless resistance, Charles the Simple, the reigning king of that country, ceded to their leader, Rollo, the province which has since received the name of Normandy. Rollo, who was led to embrace Christianity by the teaching of the Bishop of Rouen, obtained in marriage Gisla, the daughter of Charles. The succession of the Dukes of Normandy to the time of the Conquest was as follows:

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It may be added, that the valour shown at a later period by a few Norman pilgrims, in repelling the attack of Saracen pirates upon Salerno, (A.D. 1016,) led to a successful attempt on the part of some of their countrymen to obtain a settlement in Italy, and to effect the conquest of Sicily, which was, for some time, governed by Norman princes.

To complete the sketch of the settlements effected by the North-men, we may here mention that, already, another band of these adventurers, under the name of Varäger, (Sea-rovers,) or Varangians, had settled in Russia, where their chief, Ruric, founded a state, out of which has arisen the Russian monarchy.

The ancient historians used indifferently the titles of Duke, Count, and Earl.

Contemporary Events.

KINGS OF SCOTLAND.

Donald III. . . died A.D. 904 Constantine III.

KING OF FRANCE.

Charles III. (the Simple).

Alphonso III., surnamed the Great, abdicates the crown of Leon, and is succeeded by Garcia, (910).

Establishment in the north of Africa of an independent Mahometan dynasty, called the Fatimite, by a descendant of Ali, the fourth Caliph, and husband of Fatima, the only child of Mahomet.

Rollo obtains from Charles the Simple, the province of Normandy, of which he is the first Duke, (911).

By the death of Louis IV., infant son of Carloman, the royalty of Germany passes from the family of Charlemagne. Conrad, Duke of Franconia, or Eastern France, is elected King of Germany, (912).

Election of Henry the Fowler, of Saxony, as King of Germany, in whose family the sovereignty remains for one hundred years, (918).

NAMES OF NOTE.
Asser, Bishop.
Phlegmund, Archbishop

died A.D. 910 923

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Married, 1st, EGWINE. Issue, ATHELSTAN. Married, 2nd, EDGIVE. Issue, EDMUND. EDRED. Edith. Edgive. Ethilde.

Principal Events.

SUCCEEDS his father at the age of thirty, and is crowned at Kingston by Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury.

He suppresses a revolt caused by one of the nobles, named Alfred.

926. He gives his sister Edith in marriage to Sithric, a Danish leader, with part of Northumbria, which on the death of Sithric soon afterwards he resumes.

The Northumbrian Danes, aided by Anlaf of Ireland, and Constantine of Scotland, throw off their allegiance to Athelstan.

934. He reduces to submission, Voel, or Howel of Wales, who becomes tributary to the English crown.

937. Athelstan defeats the confederate Northumbrians, Scots, Irish and Cumbrians, in a great battle at Brunansburg.

He assists, in his efforts to obtain the crown of Norway, Hako, one of the first princes who introduced Christianity into that country.

A.D. 925

Observations.

ATHELSTAN promoted the welfare of his country both by his skill in war, and by his laws, which are still extant.

In the battle of Brunansburg,-long celebrated in Saxon poetry,-the life of Athelstan was at one time in great danger. Adopting a stratagem frequently ascribed, though upon too slight evidence, to Alfred, the Danish chief before the battle visited the English camp, disguised as a minstrel. He learned the position of the royal tent. But he was not unobserved. A Saxon soldier, who had at one time been in the service of the Danes, recognised him; but, as he had once sworn fealty to Anlaf, he would not disclose the circumstance, till his former chief had reached a place of safety. He then went to Athelstan, and counselled him to remove his tent. The advice was followed. Another tent was before evening raised upon the spot thus left vacant, and, when the attack of the Danes commenced in the following night, its occupants were surprised and slain.

Such was the renown gained by Athelstan by the victory at Brunansburg, that four continental princes formed alliances with his sisters. These princes were the Emperor Otho of Germany, Charles the Simple of France, Louis of Aquitaine, and Hugh the Great, Count of Paris, ancestor of the Capetian line of French kings. With one exception, history records the uniform kindness shown by Athelstan to his younger brothers and sisters. It is stated by a Norman writer, that, crediting a charge against his brother, Edwin, of having joined in the conspiracy of Alfred, he exposed him in an open boat at sea, but afterwards unceasingly lamented the deed.

Three foreign princes were educated under the care of Athelstan. Of these one was Hako, who succeeded his brother Eric on the throne of Norway, and who is still remembered there as Hako "the Good:" the second was Alan, of Brittany, who, driven into exile by the rising power of the Normans, at length regained his duchy by the aid of Athelstan ; while the third was Louis, son of Charles III. the Simple and Edgive, who was called, from his long residence in England, D'Outremer, (Transmarine). After an exile of fourteen years, Louis was invited by a mission from the states of France to return to his kingdom.

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One of the laws of Athelstan bespoke great foresight. To encourage commerce he decreed that a merchant who should make three voyages with a ship and cargo of his own, should gain the rank of a thane," or noble. He was also careful in protecting the poor, rendering his estates subject to certain yearly charges for their relief, and for the purchase of the liberty of one criminal, condemned for his offences to slavery. Athelstan was a promoter of learning, and caused portions of the Scriptures to be translated into Saxon for the benefit of his subjects.

Contemporary Events.

KING OF SCOTLAND.

Constantine III.

KINGS OF FRANCE.

Charles III.(the Simple) died A.D. 936 Louis IV. (Transmarine).

Alan of Brittany recovers his Duchy from the Normans, (931).

The kingdom of Arles, or Provence, ceded by Hugh to Rodolph II. of Burgundy Transjurane, who thus unites the two Burgundies, (933).

Rise of the republic of Pisa.

Louis, surnamed D'Outremer, son of Charles the Simple, is recalled from England to the throne of France, (936).

Eric, King of Norway, is dethroned for his cruelty, and is succeeded by Hako the Good.

Principal Ebenis.

STOCEEDS his brother at the age of nineteen, and is crowned at Kingston.

Rebellion of the Britons of Cumberland, and of the Northumbrian Danes, under Anlaf.

Defeated by Anlaf, Edmund surrenders to him that part of England north of Watling Street.

944. On the death of Anlaf, Edmund regains the sovereignty of Northumbria.

945. Aided by Malcolm of Scotland, he finally subdues the Britons of Cumberland, and confers that province on Malcolm, to be held as a dependency of the English crown.

He removes the Danes from the five burgheDerby, Leicester, Lincoln, Stamford and Nottingham,—which they had long occupied.

946. Edmund is assassinated by an outlaw.

Observations.

LEOLF, the assassin of Edmund, had been sentenced to banishment for his crimes. He ventured, however, to enter the royal presence, while the king was celebrating the festival of St. Augustine at Puckle-church, in Gloucestershire. The monarch seized the outlaw, who drew a dagger, and gave Edmund a wound of which he immediately expired.

Like his predecessors, Edmund paid attention to the administration of justice. During his reign a law punishing robbery with death was, for the first time, passed.

Efgive, the first wife of Edmund, was a princess whose zeal in purchasing the liberty of slaves, and whose other virtues are mentioned with praise by the early historians.

The name of Turketel, grandson of Alfred the Great, who was chancellor under Athelstan, Edmund, and Edred, deserves mention. Though in orders, he refused preferment in the Church. When, as chancellor, he accompanied the troops to battle, he would not make use of arms, in obedience to the canons which regulated the conduct of the clergy; though it was considered that an exception was allowed in the case of a war to protect the country against pagan invaders. Obtaining, at length, permission to retire from court, he gave up most of his property to his family, and entered the monastery of Croyland, which he rebuilt after its destruction by the Danes, and where he spent twenty-seven years in the instruction of youth and in acts of piety.

It is necessary for the student to remember that there were at this time several chieftains of the name of Anlaf. Besides Anlaf of Ireland, or, as his name is written by Danish historians, Olave, we meet with the names of Aniaf, the son of Sithric, and Anlaf Cwiran.

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Married, 1st, ELPGIVE. Issue, EDWY. EDGAR. Married, 2nd, ELFLEDE.

Principal Events.

THE brother of Edmund is called to the throne, in preference to the infant sons of the late king, in accordance with the practice of the Saxons.

He entrusts the government mainly to Turketel, his chancellor, and to Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury.

947. He marches an army into Scotland, and receives the oath of submission of the king of that country.

948. He is victorious over the Northumbrians, who had chosen as their prince Eric, the son of the Danish king, Harold.

He meets with the discontent of his nephew, Edwin, who aspires to the crown.

ACCESSION A.D. 946. DEATH.

Observations.

EDRED died from a disease under which he had suffered from an early age. Though weak in body, he showed vigour and decision of mind.

The Northumbrian rulers had been hitherto allowed to bear the royal title. Edred deprived them of this privilege, and reduced the province to an earldom, which was given to a chieftain named Osulf.

Dunstan, who was of royal descent, was born in Wessex, near Glastonbury. He entered the school of the Abbey at an early age, where he became remarkable for his talents and learning. On his introduction to Athelstan by his uncle, Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Dunstan soon acquired the favour of that prince. His advancement, however, excited so much jealousy on the part of some members of the court, that he was accused of practising magical arts. He retired, in consequence, to the solitude of a small monastic cell. In this retreat, which was large enough to hold a forge and other implements of handicraft, he employed his time in workmanship in metals, in transcribing books of learning and devotion, and in the arts of engraving, painting and illuminating. We still possess in the Bodleian library at Oxford, one of the works copied by his hand. The fame of his acquirements becoming known to Edmund, Dunstan was invited by that prince to leave his retirement. Notwithstanding his youth,—he was still not more than twenty years of age, he was appointed Abbot of Glastonbury, which, under his care, soon regained its early reputation. The influence acquired by him at this time did not terminate with the death of Edmund, but was preserved during the reign of Edred. The history of Dunstan after this period will be found detailed in subsequent reigns.

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