Alfred the Great 1969

When the Vikings invade England, Alfred David Hemmings is on the cusp of taking his priestly vows, but his brother, King Æthelred of Wessex Alan Dobie summons him to the front, and Alfred immediately proves himself as a capable tactician on the battlefield. After a hard-fought campaign, Æthelred dies shortly after Alfred marries the Mercian princess Aelhswith Prunella Ransome. Torn between following intellect or passion, Alfred at first refuses to succeed Æthelred and consummate his marriage, but is forced to accept kingship after the Danes attack again.

Realising the weak position of Wessex, Alfred goes into negotiations with Guthrum, the Danish Viking leader of the Kingdom of East Anglia. Aelhswith on the other hand agrees to become Guthrum’s hostage and they start to develop feelings for each other.

Alfred has difficulty acting like a king, calling for obedience and egalitarianism in the medieval society of three estates, which the fighting nobility does not appreciate. The cleric Colin Blakely Asher warns him that he is too proud and, later, the Danes defeat Alfred. The latter is forced to retreat to the fens of Somerset. Roger’s bandits, who take Alfred in, are more loyal to Alfred than his noblemen.

The nobles, however, drop their regicide plans and support Alfred in the climactic Battle of Athelney. Roger Ian McKellen sees that Alfred will need help and as the battle rages he arrives with monks, old men and peasant women, armed with clubs and pitchforks. Alfred defeats Guthrum, knocking him out, but decides to spare his life and forgives Aelhswith.