Alfred the Great

Who they were

Alfred, King of the West Saxons, was born at Wantage in 849, the fifth son of King Æthelwulf. In 855 he went with his father on pilgrimage to Rome; the story that as a child he was anointed king by Pope Leo IV is legend.

He came to the throne in 871 and died in 899.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A Christian king remembered for defending and renewing his people.

Connected on this site

• Ealhswith Saint Spouse
  “Ealhswith or Ealswitha (died 5 December 902) was the wife of King Alfred the Great.” — Wikipedia
• Cwenburh Saint
  “She is also included in the genealogical preface to the Chronicle in one copy, as part of a pedigree for the 9th-century King Æthelwulf of Wessex, the father of King Alfred the Great of Wessex.” — Wikipedia
• Modwenna Saint
  “This may be how she comes to be associated with Alfred the Great, whom she is said to have known, even though he lived in the 9th century, some two hundred years later.” — Wikipedia
• Æthelwold of Winchester Saint
  “Kings from Alfred the Great onwards took an interest in the Benedictine rule, but it was only in the middle of the tenth century that kings became ready to commit substantial funds to its support.” — Wikipedia