Why is Alfred the Great seen as important to the national identity of England? (5 points)

Question

anonymous · Answer

England: Alfred the Great 

There is a painting of Alfred the Great on his horse looking out over the Danish fleet he plans to capture.

King Alfred of England, also known as Alfred the Great, made the first steps toward giving his country a national identity when he drove the Danes out of England around 836 CE. With the foreign invaders finally defeated, Alfred strengthened the army, built a navy, and constructed fortresses all over England. Gradually he was seen as not just king of one part of the country, but king of all England. It was the first small step towards a national unity.