Reflections on Alfred the Great as a Military Leader
Richard Abels
Between 869 and 879, viking war bands conquered East Anglia, Northumbria, 
Mercia extinguished their royal houses. By 899, only one native kingdom 
royal lineage remained. Wessex survived the onslaught because of military 
and political genius its king, Alfred Great (871-899). He would leave his 
son Edward daughter AEthelflaed military, financial, administrative 
resources not to defend patrimonies but expand rule over 
Scandinavian-controlled territories kingdoms north east. This, 
along with cultural spiritual renaissance he sponsored, was be Alfred’s 
legacy claim historical greatness. From Charles Plummer Simon Keynes, 
Alfred Smyth, David Pratt, historians Anglo-Saxon England have studied 
extensively contributions literary foundations what 
was English nation. While neglected, achievement 
has largely been told in form narrative, a narrative much influenced 
by unspoken nineteenth-and twentieth-century assumptions about vikings 
the nature medieval warfare.1 This is surprising given how little attention 
had paid early warfare general before 1972, when Bernard 
S. Bachrach published Merovingian Military Organization, 481-751, opening1 The two exceptions are Ryan Lavelle’s Wars: Sources Interpretations 
of Warfare Viking Age (Woodbridge, 2010) John Peddie’s Alfred, 
Warrior King (Stroud, 1999). The former both historiography 
successors’ wars against compendium sources that admirably fulfills author’s goal investigate “the current state scholarship key points 
development.” Although there at which I disagree interpretations specific matters, book by far best introduction 
history. account represents professional’s assessment as 
commander. As such, it asks types practical questions non-military 
historians often ignore. Peddie, unlike Lavelle, specialist history. 
Although offers number valuable insights importance logistics lines communication, some fundamental AngloSaxon organization appear me mistaken. following article 
is distillation my previous on vikings. It draws heavily upon Great, War, Kingship Culture (London, 1998) 
“Alfred Micel Haethen Here Threat,” Timothy Reuter, (ed.)salvo has become truly remarkable corpus works Carolingian warfare. My first book, Lordship Obligation 
Anglo-Saxon (1988) owed great intellectual debt Bachrach’s 
pioneering work.2 insistence Roman for 
Merovingian strategy, coupled Luttwak’s 
analysis grand strategy Empire, led conceive 
King boroughs reorganization constituting 
“defense depth” strategic system. A Festschrift an occasion reflect scholarly achievements influence scholar. In three-decade-long 
friendship Bernie Bachrach, we sometimes disagreed 
interpretation. am perhaps less persuaded than imprint Rome 
upon But agree successful 
early leaders understood approached 
intellectual endeavor required planning, study, thought. certainly no true Charlemagne. paper will offer 
a brief overview analysis leader explanation 
why succeeded where contemporaries, including Bald, did not.