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THESE ISLES: Alfred, king of Wessex, who lived 849-99, is renowned as an English national hero for resisting the Vikings’ advance and for promoting learning and literacy. He gained the epithet ‘the Great’ as early as the 13th century, popularised from the 16th. 1/6

Under Danish pressure, Alfred retreated to the island of Athelney on the Somerset Levels, from which he waged guerrilla war. He managed to regroup and eventually defeated the Danes at Edington in Wiltshire in 878. 2/6

Alfred created a system of fortified burhs and strengthened the navy. He issued a new code of laws and established a court school for nobles and commoners to be educated in both English and Latin. 4/6

Alfred began styling himself as ‘King of the Anglo-Saxons’ after reoccupying London from the Vikings. 5/6