King Alfred Research Paper

Why was Alfred so devout and committed to learning?

This essay will explain why King Alfred was so devout and committed to learning. Firstly it will focus on how the Viking invasions had an impact on his commitment to learning. Secondly how he viewed the decline of education within England at this time and lastly how he may have always had a desire for wisdom and for learning.

In the eight century, England was made up of small kingdoms. There was Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex which was the kingdom of King Alfred. By 879 the Viking invasions had destroyed all native English dynasties except for that of Alfred’s, for Alfred and his kingdom to survive, he had to strengthen the defences of his kingdom and he done this by building fortresses…show more content…
There is story told in Asser’s Life of King Alfred, about Alfred’s mother showing him a book of poetry which she held in her hand and said, “I shall give this book to whichever one of you who can learn it the fastest”. Asser reports that Alfred was spurred on by her words and that he was attracted by the initial letter in the book, that he immediately took the book, went to his teacher and learned it. Once it was learnt he took it back to his mother and recited it. To me this story tells us a great deal about Alfred’s character, he was the youngest of four boys and at this young age he probably never expected to be king as he had three elder brothers in succession to the kingship before himself. At this time this may have been the only way Alfred could have made his brothers look inferior to him and make a lasting impression on those around him. This story shows that Alfred always had a desire for learning and was keen to implement it as his Christian beliefs stated that he should pass on his knowledge and wisdom to other…show more content…
Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.8
[ 2 ]. Alfreds Pastoral Care, ed. Sweet, p.4: trans. Keynes and Lapidge, p.125
[ 3 ]. Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.8
[ 4 ]. Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.8
[ 5 ]. Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.220
[ 6 ]. Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.54
[ 7 ]. Asser’s Life of Alfred, in Alfred the Great, translated S. Keynes and M. Lapidge (Penguin, 1983) p.18
[ 8 ]. Wood, M., 2001. In Search of the Dark Ages. London: BBC. p. 123
[ 9 ]. Wood, M., 2001. In Search of the Dark Ages. London: BBC. p. 124
[ 10 ]. Abels, R., 1998. Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England. London: Addison Wesley Longman. p.221
[ 11 ]. Asser’s Life of Alfred, in Alfred the Great, translated S. Keynes and M. Lapidge (Penguine, 1983)