The Artios Home Companion Series Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings
Teacher Overview
VIKINGS (also known as Norsemen or Northmen), were fierce Germanic tribesmen who swept down from Scandinavian lands to invade and plunder villages and towns along the coastal areas of northern Europe. News of their coming brought terror to people’s hearts wherever they went.
Map showing area of Norse settlements during the 8th to 11th centuries (the Viking Age)
Reading and Assignments In this unit, students will: Complete three lessons in which they will learn about the coming of the Northman, Rollo the Viking, and Alfred the Great, journaling and answering discussion questions as they read. Define vocabulary words. Complete a biography notebook page on Rollo the Viking. Complete a biography notebook page on Alfred the Great. Explore the following websites: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vikings/ https://www.royal.uk/alfred-great-r-871-899 Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 80 Leading Ideas Vocabulary An individual’s character will be reflected in his Lesson 1: leadership. pillage For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. — Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) Lesson 2: siege There is power in the spoken word to do evil or to do besiege good. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Lesson 3: — Matthew 12:34 none
The rise and fall of nations and leaders is determined Key People, by God. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Places, and LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Events — Proverbs 21:1 Rollo the Viking God’s Word is the supreme source of God’s revelation Alfred the Great to man. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Norse clothes in the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities, Stockholm
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 81 L e s s o n O n e
History Overview and Assignments The Coming of the Norsemen
“Armed, then, at all points, these joyous, bloodthirsty pirates set forth in their dragon-ships. Along the sides they hung their brightly painted shields, ringed and embossed with metal, and leaning upon their spears, they stood in the prow, while the short oars flashed and the wind sang through the sail. When storm winds blew and others sought the shelter of the shore, the dragon-ship sped forth, spurning as if in joy the foaming waves. Then, as day dawned, some sleeping village would hear the Viking battle cry.” — Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Reading and Assignments
Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: Coming of the Northman. Explore more about the Vikings at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/viki ngs Narrate about today’s reading using the appropriate notebook page. Be sure to include key people, events, and dates within the narration. Define the vocabulary word in the context of the reading and put the word and its definition in the vocabulary section of your history notebook. Begin gathering information for a display or presentation about the Vikings and their culture. Include information about their villages, Animal-head post found in the Oseberg vikingship, seen in their ships, and their language. the Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway (By Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Norway - Museum In lieu of discussion questions, of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Norway, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, please spend your time on the https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3886717) research needed for your project. This activity will lead to great Vocabulary family and group discussion when presented. pillage Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 82 Adapted for Middle School from the book: The Story of Europe by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall The Coming of the Northmen
We have studied the dim beginnings of disturbances, there were frequent attacks France, Italy, and Germany. But hundreds from without to be repelled, and these alone of years were to pass before these kingdoms were enough to prevent Europe from really became settled. The period which settling into peace. followed the Treaty of Verdun was one of Soon after the death of Charlemagne the constant turmoil and bloodshed, for the Saracens seized the island of Sicily, overran kings were often feeble, sometimes bad, and a great part of the south of the Italian their subjects were turbulent and rebellious. Peninsula, and even threatened Rome itself. Even a strong king had endless difficulties Avars and Hungarians from the wilds of to face. Asia swept over Germany and northern First, there was the lack of roads. One of Italy, reached even to the borders of France, the first things the Romans had done in a and at length settled in the land which is conquered country was to build roads. They now called Hungary. And lastly, there came knew that roads were great conquerors and the Vikings, or Norsemen (also called great civilizers. But the barbarians who split Northmen). They were the last of the up the Roman Empire did not know the German tribes to attack the civilization of value of roads, so the wonderful Roman Europe, and they left more impression on it highways were allowed to fall into disrepair. than almost any other, although they In Saxony, which the Romans had never themselves became absorbed in the peoples conquered, there were no roads at all. The they conquered. difficulties, therefore, of traveling from one part of the kingdom to another were immense, the transport of an army extremely difficult. Without roads, too, commerce languished. Secondly, the King was almost always poor, for the system of taxation was very imperfect. Being unable quickly to travel all over the kingdom himself, the King was obliged to delegate much of his authority to dukes and counts. Having little money, he paid them for their services in land, and their possessions often became so great that they were really more wealthy and powerful than the King himself, and rebelled against his authority. So civil wars were constant. Snow cover across Scandinavia, as imaged by MODIS Besides these and other internal on board NASA's Terra satellite in 2002
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 83 The Home of the Norsemen Norsemen began to sail forth from their Of their early history we know little or bays and fjords, and attack the Christian nothing. For while in southern and central kingdoms of Europe. They came from what Europe new kingdoms were being are now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, hammered out of the old Roman Empire, but in those days men called them all Europe beyond the Baltic was a region indiscriminately, Danes, Norsemen, unknown. Until the end of the eighth Northmen, Vikings, or men of the bays and century we know almost nothing of fjords. The English chronicles generally call Scandinavia. Nearly all the Teutonic tribes, them Danes, the French chronicles it is true, who took possession of the empire generally call them Norsemen. But, by came, or had traditions of having come, whatever name they were known, for a from the far north. They came from beyond hundred years they made themselves the the sluggish sea where dwelt a mighty terror of seaboard Europe. people well skilled in the building of boats; For the attacks of the Norsemen differed they came “from the edge of the world.” But from those of any other barbarian people in little was known of this far-distant country. that they came from the sea, and not from Those of you who have read the the land. They sailed in long, narrow Germania of Tacitus may remember how he vessels, capable of holding fifty or sixty speaks of these northern peoples and their men. Bow and stern were alike, so that the land. “They live on islands in the sea,” he ship could be steered either way, and they says. “Their strength lies not in military were decorated with the head of a swan or forces only, but also in their dragon, or some other animal. But the ships . . . Beyond the islands there is dragon was the favorite. Rowers sat along another sea which is sluggish, and nearly the sides of the vessels, and there was also always still. It is believed to encircle the one large sail. earth, for here the light of the setting sun lasts until the sun rises again, and the light is bright enough to make pale the stars. Moreover, it is said that you can hear the sea hiss as the sun rises out of it and see the god’s face, and the halo about his head. This is the end of the world, it is said, and it may well be so.”
The Norsemen as Raiders
Hundreds of years passed, and people The preserved remains of the Oseberg Ship, now knew little more about this strange northern located in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. country than they did in the time of Tacitus. (By Hofi0006 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=268551) At length, however, toward the end of the eighth century, driven by poverty and the Accustomed as we are now to great necessity of finding new homes, or merely seagoing ships, the Viking ships seem the by the love of adventure, the heathen merest cockle-shells, and we marvel how
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 84 men could venture forth upon the stormy with jewels, and were handed on from hero North Sea in such frail craft. But venture to hero, and prized as no other gift was forth they did, even upon the pathless prized.
ocean, and there seems now little doubt that five hundred years before Columbus the hardy Norsemen had landed upon the shores of North America. These dragon-ships became the pest of the seas and a terror to all seaboard dwellers. It was a new terror, too. For hitherto there had been peace upon the seas. Huns, Avars, Bulgars, Goths, Vandals, Franks, Lombards, and all the other lesser tribes which had swept over Europe in turn, had made their attacks by land. Except for Saracen or Vandal pirates, the seas had still remained the peaceful routes of trade. Now that was changed. War and bloodshed came Viking swords displayed at the Viking Museum in from the sea, just when it seemed as if the Hedeby (By Own work - Picture taken by viciarg ᚨ at the beginnings of peace might dawn on land. Vikingermuseum in Haithabu, Germany, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=788610) The sea was the Norseman’s element. Yet, born sailor though he was, he seemed Armed, then, at all points, these joyous, equally at home on land, where he proved bloodthirsty pirates set forth in their himself a skillful, cunning, and absolutely dragon-ships. Along the sides they hung cold-blooded fighter. They were blue-eyed, their brightly painted shields, ringed and fair-haired, tall, and sinewy men. They wore embossed with metal, and leaning upon their hair in long plaits, and dressed in their spears, they stood in the prow, while bright colors, scarlet being much loved by the short oars flashed and the wind sang them. They wore coats of mail and great through the sail. When storm winds blew horned helmets, and were armed with bow and others sought the shelter of the shore, and arrows, hatchet, spear, and sword. the dragon-ship sped forth, spurning as if in They loved war, the ways of war, and the joy the foaming waves. Then, as day weapons of war. Their songs were all of war dawned, some sleeping village would hear and the mighty blows of heroes, and in these the Viking battle cry. Then bright swords songs they gave poetic names to their ships gleamed, and sparing neither man nor and weapons. But more than any other woman, these Norsemen plundered at will. weapon they loved their swords, and to At length, their fury and their greed sated, them they gave the most poetic names such they mounted into their ship once more and as “the lightning of war,” “the thorn of sped away as swiftly as they had come, shields,” “the helmet biter.” The hilts and leaving behind them only smoking, blood- scabbards of these swords were often stained ruins where, but a few hours before, beautifully inlaid with gold and studded peaceful homes had stood.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 85 native population. They settled in England and became Englishmen, they settled in France and became Frenchmen. Later, these Norman-French conquered England and again, in time, became Englishmen. But before they finally settled there the attacks of the Norsemen on France were both many and cruel. It was not the coasts only that they left desolate, for in their narrow vessels they sailed up the rivers, and towns and villages far inland were laid in ruins. Even Paris itself was threatened by them more than once. The Carolingian line was by this time dying out in feebleness, and weak kings,
unable to punish the impudent invaders, Shield mountings on the ship paid them gold to depart. The Norsemen The first of these attacks of which we accepted the gold, but they always returned have any record was upon England, toward again, each time in greater and greater the end of the eighth century. But soon numbers, ever more greedy, more bold, and England, Scotland, Ireland, France, more cruel than before. With sword and Germany, Spain, and Italy all knew and firebrand they laid waste the land until dreaded the terrible Norsemen. Their coasts there were whole districts in the most fertile were dotted with ruins, the bones of the parts of France where it was said a man dead lay bleaching on a thousand might wander for long days without seeing battlefields, and a new petition was added to the smoke of a chimney or hearing the bark men’s prayers, “From the fury of the of a dog. Northmen, good Lord deliver us.” “The heathen, like wolves in the night, seize upon the flocks of Christ,” wailed a
writer of the time. “Churches are burned, THE NORSEMEN IN FRANCE women are led away captive, the people are AND ENGLAND slain. Everywhere there is mourning. From
all sides cries and lamentations assail the
The Norsemen as Settlers ears of the King who, by his indolence, At the beginning of their raids the leaves his Christian folk to perish.” Norsemen came only to plunder and made no attempt to settle in the lands they Rollo Settles in the North of France attacked. But as time went on they came not After a time, a group of the Norsemen, only to plunder but to settle. And wherever under their leader named Rollo, took they settled a change came over them. They possession of a part of France and settled were so adaptable that they lost their there. The land became known as individuality and became merged in the Normandy, and its people Normans. Very
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 86 quickly they forgot their heathen religion filled with a great curiosity, they had a and their northern speech and northern genius for order and government, and they home. Normandy, strange to say, became were fearless, energetic, and eager, always the best governed part of France, and the ready to adventure. Civilized, they retained exploits of Rollo the Viking, the devastator much of the old vigor which as barbarian of France, the pillager of monasteries, the heathen had made them such deadly and slayer of women and children, were almost pitiless foes. Christianized, they became the forgotten in the fame of Robert, Duke of passionate champions of the Catholic Normandy, the builder of churches, and Church. And the descendants of those framer of righteous laws. Vikings who had refused to bend the knee to Outwardly, wherever the Norsemen any man, and laughed aloud at the settled they seemed to disappear and discomfiture of their overlord, became the become merged in the native population. In great upholders of the feudal system, the reality they imbued these populations with impassioned exponents of the orders of something of their own spirit. They were knighthood and chivalry.
A replica of the Gokstad Viking ship named Viking was sailed across the Atlantic to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 87 L e s s o n T w o
History Overview and Assignments Rollo the Viking
“The Vikings had many able chieftains. One of the most famous was Rollo the Walker, so called because he was such a giant that none of the Scandinavian ponies strong enough to carry him could be found, and therefore he always had to walk. However, he did on foot what few could do on horseback.” – John Henry Haaren
Photo of Rollon statue depicted among the 6 dukes of Normandy in the town square of Falaise (By Imars: Michael Shea. - Own work; transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:MARKELLOS using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9553228)
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 88 Reading and Assignments
Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: Rollo the Viking. Narrate on this article by completing a biography page for Rollo the Viking. Continue working on a display or presentation about the Vikings. Vocabulary In lieu of discussion questions, please spend your time on the research needed for your project. This activity siege will lead to great family and group discussion when besiege presented. Define each vocabulary word in the context of the reading and put the word and its definition in the Key People, vocabulary section of your history notebook. Places, and Be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional Events resources. Rollo the Viking
Adapted for Middle School from the book: Famous Men of the Middle Ages by John Henry Haaren Rollo the Viking
For more than two hundred years empire in which the Franks were settled. during the Middle Ages the Christian At least fifty times in two hundred years countries of Europe were attacked on the the lands of the Franks were invaded. The southwest by the Saracens of Spain, and on Vikings sailed up the large rivers into the the northwest by the Norsemen, or heart of the region which we now call France Northmen. These were so called because and captured and pillaged cities and towns. they came into Middle Europe from the Some years after Charlemagne’s death they North. Sometimes they were called Vikings, went as far as his capital, Aix, took the place, or pirates, because they were adventurous and stabled their horses in the cathedral sea-robbers who plundered all countries which the great emperor had built. which they could reach by sea. In the year 860 they discovered Iceland Their ships were long and swift. In the and made a settlement upon its shores. A center was placed a single mast, which few years later they sailed as far as carried one large sail. For the most part, Greenland, and there established however, the Norsemen depended on settlements which existed for about a rowing, not on the wind, and sometimes century. there were twenty rowers in one vessel. These Vikings were the first discoverers The Vikings were a terror to all their of the North American continent. Ancient neighbors; but the two regions that suffered books found in Iceland tell the story of the most from their attacks were the Island of discovery. It is related that a Viking ship was Britain and that part of Charlemagne’s driven during a storm to a strange coast,
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 89 which is thought to have been that part of Rouen, which also was on the Seine, but America now known as Labrador. nearer its mouth. The citizens had heard of When the captain of the ship returned the giant, and when they saw the river home he told what he had seen. His tale so covered by his fleet they were dismayed. excited the curiosity of a young Viking However, the bishop of Rouen told them prince, called Leif the Lucky, that he sailed that Rollo could be as noble and generous as to the newly discovered coast. he was fierce; and he advised them to open Going ashore, he found that the country their gates and trust to the mercy of the abounded in wild grapes; and so he called it Viking chief. This was done, and Rollo Vinland, or the land of Vines. Vinland is marched into Rouen and took possession of thought to have been a part of what is now it. The bishop had given good advice, for the Labrador coast, in Canada. Rollo treated the people very kindly. The Vikings were not aware that they had found a great unknown continent. No one in the more civilized parts of Europe knew anything about their discovery; and after a while the story of the Vinland voyages seems to have been forgotten, even among the Vikings themselves. So it is not to them that we owe the discovery of America, but to Columbus; because his discovery, though nearly five hundred years later than that of the Norsemen, actually made known to all Europe, for all time, the existence of the New World.
Rollo the Walker The Vikings had many able chieftains. One of the most famous was Rollo the Walker, so called because he was such a giant that no Scandinavian pony strong enough to carry him could be found, and therefore he always had to walk. However, he did on foot what few could do on Statue of Rollo in the gardens of the Rouen City Hall on horseback. the day of its opening after restoration. (By Frédéric In 885 seven hundred ships, BISSON from Rouen, France - Statue de Rollon, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15792904) commanded by Rollo and other Viking chiefs, left the harbors of Norway, sailed to Soon after capturing Rouen he left the the mouth of the Seine, and started up the place, sailed up the river to Paris, and joined river to capture the city of Paris. the other Viking chiefs. And now for six long Rollo and his men stopped on the way at miles the beautiful Seine was covered with
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 90 Viking vessels, which carried an army of sailed from the icy shore of Norway and thirty thousand men. again traveled up the Seine in hundreds of A noted warrior named Eudes was Viking vessels. Count of Paris, and he had advised the Of course, on arriving in the land of the Parisians to fortify the city. So not long Franks, Rollo at once began to plunder before the arrival of Rollo and his towns and farms. companions, two walls with strong gates Charles, then King of the Franks, had been built round Paris. although his people called him “the Simple,” It was no easy task for even Vikings to or “Senseless,” had sense enough to see that capture a strongly walled city. We are told this must be stopped. that Rollo and his men built a high tower So he sent a message to Rollo and and rolled it on wheels up to the walls. At its proposed that they should have a talk about top was a floor well manned with soldiers. peace. Rollo agreed, and accordingly they But the people within the city shot hundreds met. The King and his troops stood on one of arrows at the besiegers, and threw down side of a little river, and Rollo with his rocks, or poured boiling oil and pitch upon Vikings stood on the other. Messages them. passed between them. The King asked Rollo The Vikings thought to starve the what he wanted. Parisians, and for thirteen months they “Let me and my people live in the land of encamped round the city. At length food the Franks; let us make ourselves homes became very scarce, and Count Eudes here, and I and my Vikings will become your determined to go for help. He went out vassals,” answered Rollo. He asked for through one of the gates on a dark, stormy Rouen and the neighboring land. So the night, and rode post-haste to the King. He King gave him that part of Francia; and ever told him that something must be done to since it has been called Normandy, the land save the people of Paris. of the Norsemen. So the King gathered an army and When it was decided that the Vikings marched to the city. No battle was fought — should settle in Francia and be subjects of the Vikings seemed to have been afraid to the Frankish king, legend says that Rollo risk one. They gave up the siege, and Paris was told that he must kiss the foot of Charles was relieved. in token that he would be the King’s vassal. Rollo and his men went to the Duchy of The haughty Viking refused. Burgundy, where, as now, the finest crops “Never,” said he, “will I bend my knee were raised and the best of wines were before any man, and no man’s foot will I made. kiss.” After some persuasion, however, he Robert, Duke of Normandy apparently ordered one of his men to Perhaps after a time Rollo and his perform the act of homage for him. The Vikings went home; but we do not know Norseman seized the King’s foot and drew it what he did for about twenty-five years. We up to his lips. This made the King fall to the do know that he abandoned his old home in ground, to the great amusement of the Norway in 911. Then he and his people Norsemen.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 91 Becoming a vassal to the King meant belonged. They did all the work. They that if the King went to war Rollo would be worked chiefly for the landlords, but partly obliged to join his army and bring a certain for themselves. number of armed men — one thousand or Having been a robber himself, Rollo more. knew what a shocking thing it was to ravage Rollo was now Robert, Duke of and plunder, and he determined to change Normandy. He granted sections of his land his people’s habits. He made strict laws and to his leading men on condition that they hanged robbers. His duchy thus became one would bring soldiers to his army and fight of the safest parts of Europe. under him. They became his vassals, as he The Norsemen learned the language of was the King’s vassal. the Franks and adopted their religion. The lands granted to vassals in this way The story of Rollo is especially were called fiefs, and this plan of holding interesting to us, because Rollo was a lands was called the Feudal System. forefather of that famous Duke of It was established in every country of Normandy named William who, less than a Europe during the Middle Ages. hundred and fifty years later, conquered The poorest people were called serfs. England and brought into that country the They were almost slaves and were never Norman nobles with their French language permitted to leave the estate to which they and customs.
Viking Ships besieging Paris.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 92 Lesson Three
History Overview and Assignments Alfred the Great
“Taking his harp in his hands, Alfred played and sang one of the ballads with which he had entertained Guthrum in the camp. The Dane started in amazement and exclaimed: ‘You, then, King Alfred, were the wandering minstrel?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Alfred, ‘I was the musician whom you received so kindly. Your life is now in my hands; but I will give you your liberty if you will become a Christian and never again make war on my people.’ ” – John Henry Haaren
Key People, Places, and Events Alfred the Great
Reading and Assignments
Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: Alfred the Great, King from 871–901 A.D. Explore more about Alfred the Great by visiting this website: https://www.royal.uk/alf red-great-r-871-899 Narrate on this article and website by completing a biography page for Alfred the Great. In lieu of answering discussion questions, please spend your time completing your project. Complete your display or presentation about the Vikings. Statue of King Alfred the Great, Wantage, Oxfordshire Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com (File is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license by Philip Jelley) for additional resources.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 93 Adapted for Middle School from the book: Famous Men of the Middle Ages by John Henry Haaren Alfred the Great, King from 871 – 901 A.D.
Alfred, Son of Aethelwulf Alfred’s time were written by skillful The Danes were neighbors of the penmen, who wrote generally on leaves of Norwegian Vikings, and like them were parchment, which was sheepskin carefully fond of the sea and piracy. They plundered prepared so that it might retain ink. the English coasts for more than a century; One day Alfred’s mother showed him and most of northern and eastern England and his elder brothers a beautiful volume became for a time a Danish country with which contained a number of the best Saxon Danish kings. ballads. Some of the words in this book were What saved the rest of the country for written in brightly colored letters, and upon the Saxons was the courage of a truly great many of the leaves were painted pictures of Saxon king, Alfred. brightly-dressed knights and ladies. Alfred was the son of Aethelwulf, King of “Oh, what a lovely book!” exclaimed the the West Saxons. Alfred had a loving mother boys. who brought him up with great care. Up to “Yes, it is lovely,” replied the mother. “I the age of twelve, it is said, he was not able will give it to whichever of you children can to read well, in spite of the efforts of his read it the best in a week.” mother and others to teach him. Alfred began at once to take lessons in
reading, and studied hard day after day. His brothers passed their time in amusements and made fun of Alfred’s efforts. They thought he could not learn to read as well as they could, no matter how hard he should try. At the end of the week the boys read the book to their mother, one after the other. Much to the surprise of his brothers, Alfred proved to be the best reader and his mother gave him the book. Æthelwulf's ring, depicted in While still very young Alfred was sent by Cassell's History of England his father to Rome to be anointed by His When Alfred was a boy there were no Holiness, the Pope. It was a long and printed books. The wonderful art of printing tiresome journey, made mostly on was not invented until about the year 1440 horseback. — nearly six hundred years later than With imposing, solemn ceremony he Alfred’s time. Moreover, the art of making was anointed by the Holy Father. paper had not yet been invented. Afterwards he spent a year in Rome Consequently the few books in use in receiving religious instruction.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 94 Alfred Becomes King thoughts turned to his troubles and he In the year 871, when Alfred was twenty- forgot about the cakes. two years old, the Danes invaded various When the woman came back she cried parts of England. Some great battles were out with vexation, for the cakes were burned fought, and Alfred’s elder brother and spoiled. “You lazy, good-for-nothing Aethelred, King of the West Saxons, was man!” she said, “I warrant you can eat cakes killed. Thus Alfred became king. fast enough; but you are too lazy to help me The Danes still continued to fight the bake them.” Saxons, and defeated Alfred in a long and With that she drove the poor hungry severe struggle. They took for themselves Alfred out of her house. In his ragged dress the northern and eastern parts of England. he certainly did not look like a king, and she Moreover, Danes from Denmark had no idea that he was anything but a poor continued to cross the sea and ravage the beggar. coast of Saxon England. They kept the people in constant alarm. Alfred therefore determined to meet the pirates on their own element, the sea. So he built and equipped the first English navy, and in 875 gained the first naval victory ever won by the English. He is known to this day as “the founder of the English navy.” A few years after this, however, great numbers of Danes from the northern part of England came pouring into the Saxon lands. Alfred himself was obliged to flee for his life. For many months he wandered through forests and over hills to avoid being taken by the Danes. He sometimes made his home in caves and in the huts of shepherds and cowherds. Often he tended the cattle and sheep and was glad to get a part of the Alfred the Great is scolded by his subject, a cowherd's wife, for not turning the breads but readily eating them farmer’s dinner in pay for his services. when they are baked in her cottage.
Once, when very hungry, he went into the house of a cowherd and asked for Defeat of the Danes something to eat. The cowherd’s wife was Some of Alfred’s friends discovered baking cakes and she said she would give where he was hiding and joined him. In a him some when they were done. little time a body of soldiers came to him “Watch the cakes and do not let them and a strong fort was built by them. From burn, while I go across the field to look after this fort Alfred and his men went out now the cows,” said the woman, as she hurried and then and gave battle to small parties of away. Alfred took his seat in the chimney- the Danes. Alfred was successful, and his corner to do as he was told. But soon his army grew larger and larger.
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 95 One day he disguised himself as a An old road running across England wandering minstrel and went into the camp from London to Chester was then agreed of the Danes. He strolled here and there, upon as the boundary between the Danish playing on a harp and singing Saxon and Saxon kingdoms; and the Danes settled ballads. At last, Guthrum, the commander in East Anglia, as the eastern part of of the Danes, ordered the minstrel to be England was called. brought to his tent. Alfred went. “Sing to me Years of peace and prosperity followed some of your charming songs,” said for Alfred’s kingdom. During these years the Guthrum. “I never heard more beautiful King rebuilt the towns that had been music.” So the kingly harper played and destroyed by the Danes, erected new forts, sang for the Dane, and went away with and greatly strengthened his army and handsome presents. But better than that, he navy. had gained information that was of the He also encouraged trade; and he greatest value. founded a school like that established by In a week he attacked the Danish forces Charlemagne. He himself translated a and defeated them with great slaughter in a number of Latin books into Saxon, and battle which lasted all day and far into the probably did more for the cause of night. Guthrum was taken prisoner and education than any other king that ever brought before Alfred. wore the English crown. Taking his harp in his hands, Alfred played and sang one of the ballads with which he had entertained Guthrum in the camp. The Dane started in amazement and exclaimed: “You, then, King Alfred, were the wandering minstrel?” “Yes,” replied Alfred, “I was the musician whom you received so kindly. Your life is now in my hands; but I will give you your liberty if you will become a Christian and never again make war on my people.” “King Alfred,” said Guthrum, “I will become a Christian, and so will all my men if you will grant liberty to them as to me; and henceforth, we will be your friends.” Alfred then released the Danes, and they were baptized as Christians. Portrait of Alfred the Great
Medieval to Renaissance: Middle School Unit 7: The Coming of the Vikings Page 96