King Alfred the Great

Opening the list of most important historical figures in United Kingdom is King Alfred the Great.

Alfred the Great, who is regarded as the founding monarch of England, is renowned for two significant accomplishments: rescuing his country from the Danes' invasion and his commitment to advancing education. He restored the educational institutions and brought peace to his country. Alfred's stepmother Judith, his instructor, and later his biographer Asser, a Welsh bishop, all supported his enthusiasm in learning. Alfred picked up the languages of Latin and English. He studied and translated English versions of Bible verses. Alfred's education was frequently disrupted by the king's obligations. Wars with the Danes occupied the most of his rule.

In 871, he was crowned king of Wessex. The eastern lands of Britain were under the control of the Danes at that point, who had been living in the British Isles for at least a century. Wessex was frequently raided by them, and residents were required to pay homage to them. Alfred bought peace for his people during the first four years of his rule, from 865 to 875, by paying tribute to the Danes. The invaders first appeared content, but in 875, after receiving their tribute, they did not depart from Wessex as they had done in the past. Alfred amassed a potent army in a short period of time. He drove the invading Danes from Wessex by defeating them.

Alfred started implementing his changes after he had established peace in his country. He held that the invaders were God's retribution for the decline of knowledge. He vigorously promoted education in the nation as a result. Because reading was so important to Alfred, he started making demands that other local nobility learn to read. He established educational institutions for them and hired numerous Latin academics from the continent to work as teachers there. He himself translated a number of Latin-language works. He began the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which served as a history of his realm and is sometimes referred as as the earliest history of England. He also put in place a set of laws that were based on the Bible.

Alfred's final years were calmer and more focused on education. Alfred left behind a society that would last for centuries when he passed away in 899.