King Alfred the Great (849, ruled 871-899) was one of the best kings ever to rule mankind. He defended Anglo-Saxon England from Viking raids, formulated a code of laws, and fostered a rebirth of religious and scholarly activity. His reign exhibits military skill and innovation, sound governance and the ability to inspire men and plan for the future, piety and a practical commitment to the support of religion, personal scholarship and the promotion of education.

"Desire for and possession of earthly power never pleased me overmuch, and I did not unduly desire this earthly rule, but that nevertheless I wished for tools and resources for the task that I was commanded to accomplish, which was that I should virtuously and worthily guide and direct the authority which was entrusted to me. You know of course that no one can make known any skill, nor direct and guide any authority, without tools and resources; a man cannot work on any enterprise without resources. In the case of the king, the resources and tools with which to rule are that he have his land fully manned: he must have praying men, fighting men and working men. You also know that without these tools no king may make his ability known. Another aspect of his resources is that he must have the means of support for his tools, the three classes of men. These, then are their means of support: land to live on, gifts, weapons, food, ale, clothing, and whatever else is necessary for each of the three classes of men. Without these things he cannot maintain the tools, nor without the tools can he accomplish any of the things he was commanded to do. Accordingly, I sought the resources with which to exercise the authority, in order that my skills and power would not be forgotten and concealed: because every skill and every authority is soon obsolete and passed over, if it is without wisdom; because no man may bring to bear any skill without wisdom. For whatever is done unthinkingly, cannot be reckoned a skill. To speak briefly: I desired to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works."
-- from Alfred's translation of Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, chapter XVII. [Keynes & Lapidge, pp 132-33.] This is an interpolation by Alfred, not in Boethius. As Alfred says in his preface, he has sometimes translated word for word, and sometimes sense for sense. In a footnote (p. 298), Keynes & Lapidge caution that this paragraph should not be taken as King Alfred's personal credo. However, it rings true for me, and I acknowledge the man behind the words.

"The just man builds on a modest foundation and gradually proceeds to greater things."
-- Asser cites this saying when he is describing King Alfred's method of learning (chapter 88). Keynes and Lapidge say that the source of this quotation is unknown. I can imagine that this saying originated with Alfred himself. It perfectly expresses his practical approach to development of his kingdom. In this saying "the just man" is to be understood, in more modern language, as meaning "the man of sound judgement".

Sources of Additional Information

• "The Life of King Alfred, by Asser"
  Online edition of Asser's biography of Alfred. Based upon the translation by J.A. Giles published in 1847. Very readable.

• "Alfred the Great: Asser's 'Life of King Alfred' and other contemporary sources",
  Translated, with an introduction and notes, by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge.
  Penguin Classics, 1983. ISBN 0-14-044409-2. Recommended.

• A statue of King Alfred by sculptor William Underhill, located at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, USA.
  

• There's a statue in the town centre of Wantage, Oxfordshire. It was designed and carved in 1877 by Count Gleichen.

• "Alfred the Educator" by Kirk Appletoft, from Matheliende, vol I, number 2 (Winter 1994)
  
• "Alfred's Military Achievements" by Alex Bruce, from Matheliende, vol I, number 3 (Spring 1994)
  

• An excerpt from Asser's 'Life of King Alfred', covering the years 878-886, translated in Albert Beebe White and Wallace Notestein, eds, "Source Problems in English History" (Harper, 1915). This corresponds to chapters 52-72 and 82-83 of Keynes and Lapidge's translation. It is interesting to compare the two translations.

• An excerpt from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, covering the same years 878-886, also from White and Notestein.
  Differs somewhat from the chronicle incorporated by Asser in his Life of King Alfred, and another opportunity for interesting comparisons. For a discussion of the history of the various texts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, see the Old English pages mentioned below.

• The treaty between Alfred and Guthrum, king of the Vikings of East Anglia. This treaty was drawn up in the 886-890 period.

• A Chronicle of Guthorm's (Guthrum's) invasion of Wessex in 878, written by Dana Metheny, 1995. For the young.

• "Alfred the Great", chapter 7 of volume 1 of Winston Churchill's "History of the English-Speaking Peoples". An appreciation of "the greatest Englishman that ever lived". Unfortunately not available online, but Churchill's histories can often be found in second-hand bookstores at reasonable prices. Recommended, both for its content about King Alfred, and also because Churchill was himself a great leader. In his assessments of people and situations, Churchill can teach one much about the arts of leadership and government.

• A picture of the Alfred Jewel.
  A beautiful gold and cloisonne ornament made by Alfred's order.

• A film "Alfred the Great" was released in 1969 by MGM. It was directed by Clive Donner and stared David Hemmings as Alfred. Reported not available on videotape.

Two stories, written and illustrated by C. Walter Hodges, provide younger readers with an excellent introduction to Anglo-Saxon times and the history of Alfred the Great.
• "The Namesake" (1964). Published by G. Bell & Sons, London and by Clarke, Irwin & Co, Toronto. The story of a boy, also named Alfred, who became a follower of, and later secretary to, King Alfred.
• "The Marsh King" (1967). Published by William Clowes & Sons, London, and by Clarke, Irwin & Co, Toronto. Carries the story forward through the period when Alfred took refuge at Athelney and then fought the battle at Ethandune in 878. Includes the famous tale of Alfred and the cakes.

URL: http://www.mirror.org/ken.roberts/king.alfred.html
Last revised October 27, 1997