Unlike his immediate predecessors, many of who were fine rulers, Alfred was a unifying force and inspirational leader who turned the tide of rising ignorance, and introduced a new worldview to his people. This biography shows that while Alfred was definitely of a royal lineage, he went beyond all expectations and shifted Anglo-Saxon society in a positive way by his reforms and guidance. He established schools, translated important books, and shared his passion for education with the inhabitants of his kingdom.
10).Īsser hoped to show that Alfred was a God-appointed ruler who cared for his people, in spite of his own infirmities. It was written to show that Alfred maintained an “ordered” life, in peace and war, and was a worthy subject to follow and emulate (p. In fact, the book retained only minor influence for several centuries. However, it never had a large Welsh readership. The book was apparently intended for a Welsh audience, in order to highlight the value in following a Godly king, such as Alfred. As a clergyman, Asser was motivated not only by Alfred’s devotion to learning, but to God. Asser provides details that explain how and why Alfred decided to undertake specific actions, focusing upon how Alfred intended to bring education back to the people, within a Christian worldview.
Through the time period under consideration, the biography shows how Alfred expanded his influence, politically, educationally, and religiously. In part due to Asser’s biography, later readers came to understand that Alfred’s social improvement programs had impacted English society in profound ways, and the historical distance allowed for this elevation of Alfred’s reputation. The modern reader finds that Alfred, while respected by his contemporaries, was not considered “great” until the sixteenth century (p. On occasion, Asser even reminds his readers that his content is moving too far from his true topic, and so redirects the narrative back to Alfred. Utilizing a similar framework as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (compiled under the authority of Alfred), Asser presents a chronological history of Anglo-Saxon society, with particular focus upon Alfred. While Alfred’s military success was impressive, his cultural impact was staggering (p. It presents the work of Alfred, as undertook a program of increasing literacy and education among the Anglo-Saxon people, as well as how he established his authority over the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and unified them. It serves as a totem for the respect that Asser had for Alfred, as they had a close relationship (p. Asser’s biography of Alfred the Great is the oldest known biography of an Anglo-Saxon king (p.
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