9. Alfred the Great

The Anglo-Saxons had occupied Britain in the 600s, but in the years thereafter, they largely embraced the Christian faith, establishing a more peaceful civilization than had been the case previously. They were stunned in the early 800s as the Vikings invaded the same territory, throwing them back in violent waves of invasion and conquest. The dominant personality of the ninth century, Alfred the Great, met the challenge of the invading Danes, and opened the door to a new chapter of life in the British Isles, thus leaving a mark in history that would never be forgotten.