AElfred is credited as the first person with a vision of a united English
people, referred to in AElfred's writings as "Angelcynn." AElfred adopted
Viking weaponry and tactics, and established a British navy made up of
Viking-style ships, stationed along the British coast to act as a deterrent to Viking
raids. AElfred rebuilt Roman shore forts, and restored Roman walls around
British cities, and built a network of castles. AElfred had latin texts
translated into the Anglo-Saxon language, and called for the creation of the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, today almost the only comprehensive source of information
about Anglo-Saxon Britain. These events are thoroughly discussed at
The
Viking Age: England Under Attack.