The Reputation of King Alfred the Great

Keynes and Lapidge state that asser's views were no inquiry shared by other contemporaries, however, and so that there may be a basis in fact for the high praise accorded to Alfred.

There is no doubt that Asser considered Alfred to be a great ruler. He describes Alfred as a leader unresolved of doing many things at the same time. He tubercles that even as Alfred was involved in war and in protecting the terra firma from Viking attacks, he was able to direct the government of the kingdom. Among the other abilities noteworthy by Asser are that Alfred was an avid hunter, that he instructed goldsmiths and craftsmen so they could split new treasures for him, that he could read and often did so aloud, and that he could issue orders to his followers and presumably be heeded--"all these things he did himself with great application to the best of his abilities."

Asser's work was the earliest cognise biography of female monarch Alfred and so is considered important as a source for knowledge about that man's vitality and about life in early England. Again, though, the accuracy of the account is uncertain, as Keynes and Lapidge note in considering how to view the work as a unscathed:

To most extent it is permissible to see Asser's Life of King Alfred simply as an expression of the biographer's personal respect for his open: the constant harping on Alfred's exceptional qualities and the

The archbishop of Rheims, Fulco, wrote a letter to Alfred at the time when the king was seek scholars to instruct him. This letter offers support for Asser's account of the desire of Alfred for great knowledge and of the lengths to which he went to secure instructors who could guide him. It is evident that the archbishop is flattered at being asked to perform this service and that he approves of the spread of acquirement, though he does make reference to the futility of doing so to certain brutal peoples. In addition to recognizing Alfred's desire for learning, Fulco's letter also recognizes Alfred's Christianity:

Alfred's Christianity is once again made evident--he fights knowing that he cannot win unless God is on his side. His army is referred to again and again as Christians.

The meshing at Edington is given particular attention, and it is this battle which stood out in recital because it decisively turned the tide against the Danes and helped create England. The battle raged for few time, with Alfred in the fray, and at length "he gained the victory through and through god's will." The ferocity of the battle is in keeping with the form of battle at that time and with the idea that alfred wa routing infidels and not Christians:

The Christianity of Alfred is another(prenominal) subject that is repeated and reinforced throughout Asser's account. In some respects, this accords with other writings which mention alfred. Asser refers to the royal "greed" as something to be praised, and here he means the greed for to a greater extent learning. The emphasis on learning and reading is interesting in an era in which education was slight and books were relatively few, and thus far Asser sees the learning of the King as proof that the latter is a superior man with a wide range of interests. Indeed, though it is an anachronism, Asser presents alfred as a sort of Renaissance man, dedicated to learning and to achievement in every field:

Keynes, Simon and Michael Lapidge. Alfred the Great capital of the United Kingdom:
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