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King of
Wessex, scholar, and renowned Christian monarch. Alfred was born in 849, the
fifth son of the Wessex king. During a journey to Rome in 853, he was
accepted as a godson by Pope Leo IV . He was a great scholar, translating
classics for his people, and early on seemed destined for a career in the
Church. Instead, he became king and was forced to spend most of his reign in
conflict with the Danes who were then threatening England. His work as a
patron of the arts, literature, and especially the Church made him a beloved
figure in England.
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