🍞 878 AD | Alfred the Great at Athelney What you’re seeing: A documentary-style recreation of the famous “burnt loaves” legend. Alfred of Wessex (the king of Wessex who later became known as “Alfred the Great” for leading resistance against Viking armies) is hiding in the marshes during the crisis of 878, sits silent by the hearth, and fails to notice bread scorching until a local woman rushes in and scolds him. Where is this? Athelney is a marshy refuge in the Somerset Levels. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Asser (a 9th-century Welsh monk and biographer of Alfred) both describe Alfred establishing a stronghold there after Easter and continuing resistance from that position. Why was Alfred here? The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says the Viking army seized Chippenham and Alfred withdrew with a small band into “woods and moor-fastnesses.” Asser describes Alfred living in hardship among the Somerset woodlands and swamps, foraging and raiding as needed. What does she say in Old English? Recon...