Primary sourceDocument1913 edition of medieval chronicle text
Wars of Alfred the Great
James W. Bright (editor) · 1913 edition of medieval chronicle text
An edited extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing Alfred's battles against the Danes, prepared for students of Old English.
Contains the earliest chronicle record of Alfred's role in battles against the Danes in 871.
About this source
What it is
This text is an extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, presented in James W. Bright's 1913 textbook for students learning Old English. It records events from the year 871, describing battles between King Æthelred, his brother Alfred, and Viking armies.
Why it matters
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is one of the main sources historians use to reconstruct Alfred's wars with the Danes. Because it was written in Old English close to the events, it gives historians direct, if brief, accounts of battles, deaths of leaders, and shifting fortunes in the fighting that shaped Alfred's early reign.
Look closer
- What details does the Chronicle include, and what does it leave unexplained?
- Why might a chronicle written soon after events still contain uncertainties or bias?
- How does reading the original Old English (even in translation) differ from reading a modern summary?
This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Alfred the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
More Alfred the Great sources
Meet the AI Alfred the Great →
Ready when you are
Start chatting with Alfred the Great now.
20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.