Winchester, I

Soon after midday the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen were in Winchester, being greeted by King Alfred.

Known as King Alfred (Aelfred) the Great, or King of Wessex, he became ruler of the West Saxons after he and his brother defeated the Danes in the Battle of Ashdown in Berkshire - the later death of his brother Ethelred left Alfred as successor in 871. He has the reputation of being a great warrior as well as a social reformer who built towns and promoted education by starting schools and translating texts from Latin. He is considered the first King of England.