Alfred was born between 847 and 849 in Wantage, in modern day Oxfordshire, however at the time it was considered to be in Berkshire. The confusion on the exact year of Alfred’s birth depends on the interpretation of the ‘Life of King Alfred,’ written by Asser, a contemporary. Asser was a monk from St Davids in Wales, who entered Alfred's court as a scholar in 885, and began writing his asccount of Alfred's life in 893. It is through this text that much of our understanding of Alfred has been gained.

Alfred’s parents were King Æthelwulf of Wessex, the son of King Ecgberht, who reigned from 802-39, and his first wife Osburh, the daughter of the King’s butler Oslac and a descendent of Cerdic, the first king of Wessex. Æthelwulf and Osburh had six children together, of which Alfred was the youngest. He had at least four older brothers: Æthelstan, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred and a sister Æthelswith.

Alfred is presented by Asser as the favourite son, brought up in the care of his parents in the royal court. According to Asser Alfred was illiterate in his youth and was not taught Latin, with the focus more being on learning the traits and skills needed to be a warrior- how to ride horses, handle weapons and hunt.

A story included in Asser’s ‘Life of King Alfred’ tells of Alfred’s mother promising to give a book of English poetry to whichever of her sons that could learn its contents first, however as Alfred could not read he had his tutor recite its contents to him and memorized them, winning the competition that way.

It’s believed that Alfred was sent to Rome on at least one occassion in his childhood, with some historians contending that Alfred went twice. On the first occassion it is said he recieved the ceremonial clothing given to Roman consul.