# @itsaihistory on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DSXyOIiif5v
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61744672-itsaihistory-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/557b531c69.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-12-17T16:41:57.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Parker Gordon (@itsaihistory) — https://gondola.cc/itsaihistory

## Caption

🍞 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?
Reconstructed Old English (for this video): “Gehyrst þū ne? þā hlāfas byrnað!”
Modern English: “Do you not hear? The loaves are burning!”

Did this really happen?
Alfred’s refuge at Athelney is historical, but the “burnt loaves/cakes” scolding is best treated as a later legend rather than a secure early account.

Outcome — and how we know:
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (878) says Alfred built at Athelney, rallied at Egbert’s Stone, fought at Edington (Eðandun), and then besieged the Danes for 14 nights. It adds that Guthrum later came for baptism at Aller, with chrism-loosing at Wedmore, and stayed 12 nights with Alfred.
Asser gives the same sequence and includes additional narrative detail about the campaign and baptism.

Discrepancies and AI limits:
	•	Visually, the bread reads more like thin flatbread than tall loaves.
	•	Old English spelling/pronunciation are reconstructions; variants exist.

🎥 All visuals are original AI-assisted recreations produced by itsaihistory for educational and documentary purposes.

#history #itsaihistory #alfredthegreat #anglosaxon #oldenglish #vikings #wessex #england #britain #europe #reels

## Stats

- **Views:** 222,874
- **Likes:** 8,311
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- **Comments:** 172

## Tags

history, oldenglish, itsaihistory, england, alfredthegreat, anglosaxon, vikings, reels, britain, wessex, europe

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