Alfred the Great was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who both died when Alfred was young. Three of Alfred's brothers, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, reigned in turn before him. Under Alfred's rule, considerable administrative and military reforms were introduced, prompting lasting change in England.
Year 867 (DCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.
The 850s decade ran from January 1, 850, to December 31, 859.
The 860s decade ran from January 1, 860, to December 31, 869.
The 870s decade ran from January 1, 870, to December 31, 879.
The 880s decade ran from January 1, 880, to December 31, 889.
The 890s decade ran from January 1, 890, to December 31, 899.
Year 855 (DCCCLV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.
Year 852 (DCCCLII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.
Year 856 (DCCCLVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.
Year 869 (DCCCLXIX) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.
Year 886 (DCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.
Year 870 (DCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 until his death in 871. He was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king. Æthelred succeeded his elder brother Æthelberht and was followed by his youngest brother, Alfred the Great. Æthelred had two sons, Æthelhelm and Æthelwold, who were passed over for the kingship on their father's death because they were still infants. Alfred was succeeded by his son, Edward the Elder, and Æthelwold unsuccessfully disputed the throne with him.
Year 893 (DCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.
Æthelwold or Æthelwald was the younger of two known sons of Æthelred I, King of Wessex from 865 to 871. Æthelwold and his brother Æthelhelm were still infants when their father the king died while fighting a Danish Viking invasion. The throne passed to the king's younger brother Alfred the Great, who carried on the war against the Vikings and won a crucial victory at the Battle of Edington in 878.
The Battle of Englefield was a West Saxon victory against a Danish Viking army on about 31 December 870 at Englefield, near Reading in Berkshire. It was the first of a series of battles that took place following an invasion of Wessex by the Danish army in December 870.
The Battle of Reading was a victory for a Danish Viking army over a West Saxon force on about 4 January 871 at Reading in Berkshire. The Vikings were led by Bagsecg and Halfdan Ragnarsson and the West Saxons by King Æthelred and his brother, the future King Alfred the Great. It was the second of a series of battles that took place following an invasion of Wessex by the Danish army in December 870.
The Battle of Ashdown was a West Saxon victory over a Danish Viking army on about 8 January 871. The location of Ashdown is not known, but may be Kingstanding Hill in Berkshire. Other writers place the battle near Starveall, a short distance north of the village of Aldworth and south east of Lowbury Hill.
Events from the 9th century in England.
