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The King was Alfred the Great, who ruled Wessex A.D. 871-899.  It is among the greatest ironies of history that, as the historian and author G.A. Henty once remarked, ''“The incident of the burned cakes is, of all the actions of a great and glorious reign, the most prominent.”''  In fact, the story of King Alfred and his followers and their desperate struggle to defend their homeland is among the greatest stories of perseverance, valor and wisdom in all of recorded history.   

The King was Alfred the Great, who ruled Wessex A.D. 871-899.  It is among the greatest ironies of history that, as the historian and author G.A. Henty once remarked, ''“The incident of the burned cakes is, of all the actions of a great and glorious reign, the most prominent.”''  In fact, the story of King Alfred and his followers and their desperate struggle to defend their homeland is among the greatest stories of perseverance, valor and wisdom in all of recorded history.   

It was in the year 870, when Alfred ruled as co-regent with his brother Ethelred that the [[Danes]] (Vikings) began to invade his kingdom in force.  In 871, the [[Saxons]] fought the Danes in eight pitched battles, with varying fortunes.  Although King Ethelred fell in the last of these battles and his kingdom was worn out by fighting, King Alfred was able to make a treaty with the Danes by which they withdrew in 872.  For several years the peace was kept, and Alfred dedicated himself to restoring his kingdom to a state of defense.  

It was in the year 870, when Alfred ruled as co-regent with his brother Ethelred that the [[Danes]] (Vikings) began to invade his kingdom in force.  In 871, the [[Saxons]] fought the Danes in eight pitched battles, with varying fortunes. However, the Viking armies were made up of professional soldiers, while only a portion of the Saxon armies were soldiers, the rest being conscripted farmers.  Although King Ethelred fell in the last of these battles and his kingdom was worn out by fighting, King Alfred was able to make a treaty with the Danes by which they withdrew in 872.  For several years the peace was kept, and Alfred dedicated himself to restoring his kingdom to a state of defense.  

But in 876 the Danes renewed the war, launching an invasion in overwhelming force.  Alfred defeated the Danes in momentous battles against great odds by land and sea, and effectually trapped the main body of the invaders at the port of Exeter so that they promised to retreat and never return if their lives were spared.  But Alfred’s forces were weakened in the struggle, and when the Danes received reinforcements and treacherously renewed the invasion, he was unable to resist the onslaught.  Thus it was that the king, after many brilliant victories, found himself a fugitive on the isle of Athelney in the marshes of England.   

But in 876 the Danes renewed the war, launching an invasion in overwhelming force.  Alfred defeated the Danes in momentous battles against great odds by land and sea, and effectually trapped the main body of the invaders at the port of Exeter so that they promised to retreat and never return if their lives were spared.  But Alfred’s forces were weakened in the struggle, and when the Danes received reinforcements and treacherously renewed the invasion, he was unable to resist the onslaught.  Thus it was that the king, after many brilliant victories, found himself a fugitive on the isle of Athelney in the marshes of England.