871 CE
Alfred the Great became King of Wessex at a moment of existential crisis for the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, as Danish Viking armies had overrun much of England.
Politics & Power
- Alfred became King of Wessex in April following the death of his brother King Aethelred I, inheriting the last major Anglo-Saxon kingdom still resisting the Danish Great Heathen Army that had conquered Northumbria, East Anglia, and much of Mercia.
- In his first year as king, Alfred fought at least nine engagements against the Danes, including the Battle of Wilton, demonstrating the relentless military pressure facing Wessex.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 276 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Population & Demographics
- World population is estimated to have been approximately 274 million.