890-909 Alfred the Great of England Repels Danes

This twenty year period covers the reign of the West Saxon King Alfred the Great of England who repelled a massive Danish invasion in 892.

King Alfred died in 899 and was succeeded by his son Edward the Elder

In 892 -- to the surprise of everyone but Alfred -- the largest Danish army ever to come to England landed in Kent. Because Alfred had spent so much time in fortifications, militia organization, ship building and propaganda he was able to repel them successfully.

From then on, he was hailed as Alfred the Great. But it wasn't just Alfred's military prowess being hailed.

He was an extraordinary man who, when he was 40, taught himself to read and write Latin - and then translated three Latin religious tracts into English and had copies sent to each diocese in England.

He also required others in positions of power - especially magistrates - to learn to read and write.

A year after Edward the Elder had succeeded Alfred, in 900, the Magyars (Hungarians) began their invasion of eastern Europe.