In the 870s the Danes (Vikings) had taken all of England except for the Kingdom of Wessex where Alfred was King. The Kings of the other areas of England were either tortured and killed, fled to mainland Europe (where they were eventually found by the Vikings and tortured and killed), or surrendered and were puppet kings under Viking rule.

Alfred's Kingdom was the only one left. His palace was invaded and kingdom was defeated and he was forced to flee into the swamps with around 30 of his personal guard. He was eventually able to muster an army that was able to fight back the Vikings in one of the most improbable comebacks in world history. 30 years later, his son and grandson were able to fully unite 'England' for the first time under 1 crown.

The 'Rest is History' podcast guys argue that Alfred's decision to fight is one of the most important moments in world history. It's THE sliding door moment and one of the 5 most important turning points that would have shaped the modern world. His council (The Witan), and his closest advisors were begging him to surrender BEFORE he had to flee into the swamps. Then after he flees to the swamps, surrender would have been understandable and fleeing would have been the obvious choice. But he chose to fight.

If Alfred is killed, flees, or surrenders...England likely never exists. Why? And how would the world be different?

- England never exists. The British isles become a Viking state for hundreds and hundreds of years.
- Modern concepts of democracy, parliamentary process, rule of law, freedom of speech, religion...things that developed solely in England or were heavily influenced by England, almost certainly develop in entirely different ways or not at all.
- Christianity fundamentally changes. The Danes were Pagans. Christianity in Britain would have died. Would the Vikings have used their British base to invade mainland Europe? Would they have destroyed or altered Christianity in France, Germany, or even Italy?
- English as a language is dead--and would have never existed at all.
- The English colonial machine--the entity that was the most important machine for global development--that ruled most of the world and settled North America, Australia, South Africa, and influenced the rest of the world, never happens (or happens entirely differently).
- The US/Canada/Australia and other nations probably don't exist or are French, Spanish, or Danish states.

In short, the decision Alfred made to fight...and his ability to WIN against the Danes was a massive turning point in world history. If he is captured or killed or surrenders, we are living in a MUCH different world.