The Medieval Life of King Alfred the Great: A Translation and Commentary on the Text Attributed to Asser

by Asser, Alfred P. Smyth (Translator)

Very few King's earn the appellation 'Great'. Alfred is the only English King honoured with this name and is credited with various successes (the foundation of a navy, English education system and religious revival). His memory looms large in the English Imagination. The medieval 'Life' of King Alfred of Wessex purports to be written by Asser, a monk in the King's service. This account of one of England's best loved and most famous kings has been accepted as offering evidence on most aspects of life in early medieval England and beyond. It was used in Victorian times to create a 'Cult' of Alfred. Alfred Smyth offers a carefully annotated translation of the 'Life' together with a long commentary. He argues that the 'Life' is a forgery which has profound implications not only for our understanding of the early English and medieval past but also for the nature of biography and history. This close scholarly rendering of the text allows the reader access to the intricacies of medieval history.

Genres: History, Biography, British Literature, School

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 893

About the author

Asser (died c. 909) was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court. After spending a year at Caerwent because of illness, Asser accepted.

In 893 Asser wrote a biography of Alfred, called the Life of King Alfred. The manuscript survived to modern times in only one copy, which was part of the Cotton library. That copy was destroyed in a fire in 1731, but transcriptions that had been made earlier, together with material from Asser's work which was included by other early writers, have enabled the work to be reconstructed. The biography is the main source of information about Alfred's life and provides far more information about Alfred than is known about any other early English ruler. Asser assisted Alfred in his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, and possibly with other works.

Reviews

[Adam McPhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

He kicked viking ass, loved reading and encouraged education. If you have to have a king, that's the kind you want.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike most translations of Asser's Life of Alfred the Great, Smyth does not take liberties in deciding that sections are interpolations and provides an excellent complete translation of the text. In the introduction and commentary he takes on heavyweights such as Whitelock, Lapidge and Keynes by stating that the text is actually a late tenth century forgery by the monk Byrhtferth.

[joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and tantalising glimpse of what must have been a complex and probably quite strange man - visionary restorer / creator of a martial Christian golden age; imposing literate culture on an oral one; centralisation on very local loyalties; naturally gifted in war and alliance-building, but plodding (but undaunted) in book learning.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

My happiness this source has survived does not quite match the labor it is to wade through these annals for no particular reason. It would, I imagine, be a more enticing read if one had a research assignment to complete.

[Brit Chhangur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-read for AO year 7. Loved this one!! I might read some more on Alfred this summer!

[Aaron Schuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asser's "Life of King Alfred" is a biography that provides a detailed account of the life and reign of one of England's most celebrated monarchs. The work, intended as a form of panegyric, praises and commemorates Alfred's achievements.

The biography begins with Asser's description of Alfred's lineage, highlighting his royal ancestry. It then delves into Alfred's early life characterized by his passion for learning, despite his ill health. Asser also mentions Alfred's pilgrimage to Rome at a young age and his later unexpected ascendancy to the throne of Wessex following the deaths of his older brothers.

A significant portion of the biography deals with Alfred's struggles against the Viking invaders. The Danes had been raiding England for years, and during Alfred's reign, their attacks intensified. Asser chronicles the battles, treaties, and strategies Alfred employed against the Vikings. One of the pivotal moments in Alfred's reign was the Battle of Edington in 878. After a surprise winter attack by the Danes, leading to a series of setbacks, Alfred rallied his forces and achieved a decisive victory at Edington. This led to the Treaty of Wedmore, where the Viking leader Guthrum agreed to convert to Christianity and withdrew from much of the territory he had conquered.

Asser emphasizes Alfred's commitment to learning and education. After realizing that learning and literacy had declined in England, Alfred initiated a cultural revival. He invited scholars from the continent and set about translating key Latin texts into the Old English language, sometimes with his own commentary. Alfred's own translation works, like Gregory the Great's "Pastoral Care," are mentioned. The biography also touches on Alfred's contributions to the legal system. He is credited with the compilation of a law code that combined earlier Anglo-Saxon laws with his own additions.

Asser sprinkles the biography with personal stories and anecdotes about King Alfred, painting a picture of a devout, intelligent, and just ruler. For example, Asser recounts Alfred's struggles with his health, his piety and religious observances, and his interest in hunting and craftsmanship. The text concludes with a reflection on Alfred's legacy, his death, and the brief reigns of his children and descendants.

Overall, Asser's "Life of King Alfred" provides historians with a firsthand account of the life and reign of Alfred. However, the work's panegyric nature means that it may present an idealized view of the king and should be approached critically. Nevertheless, the biography captures Alfred's military achievements, educational reforms, and personal attributes, making it an invaluable source for those interested in the history of England.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer begins with a stunning genealogy, taken from scripture and continuing with the history with which he would have been familiar, and finishing with King Alfred. From my understanding of the text, the environment surrounding this kingdom was wild and changeable, and Alfred became a king little by little as he led people settled in the area in many different attacks by the "pagans" or foreign invaders who are described as coming in waves every year or so. So, a good portion of the writing is a chronicle of the various wars, describing neighboring kingdoms, who the invaders were, and each outcome, for about twenty years. Finally, in the last third of the book, Asser describes his maturing king and how he sought to learn the way of the Church through learning to write and read quotations of saints and scripture, and to carefully budget his wealth into bettering his kingdom and making sure half of his money went into Godly pursuits (giving to the poor, building monasteries and an abbey, etc.)

[Everton Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost fawning account of King Alfred's life, written by one of his courtiers. Apparently written to flatter the King, it starts out with a genealogy that goes all the way back to Adam (Alfred being descended from a son of Noah's son Shem named Bedwig) and gives a year by year account of Alfred's rule up until Alfred's 40th year of life (about the year 888), at which it abruptly ends, which leads me to believe that no doubt Alfred read it and gave his approval. So though it undoubtedly includes events that would have been known to contemporary readers, this is not a warts and all biography ( and maybe that is too much to expect.) Alfred is portrayed as a great warrior, tactician, man of God, benefactor, seeker of knowledge and wisdom, and all things good. This book is valuable as one of very few primary sources of Alfred's life available.

[Dave Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language is a lot like the King James version of the Bible. It is interesting from a historical view. Not much survives regarding direct accounts of the 800s AD. I think it is often assumed that they were really dark ages. This account describes King Alfred, a Saxon king, born in 849. He was intelligent and a seeker of knowledge. He was a wise and fair king and beloved by his people. He was successful against much turmoil and challengers.

[dcrowe2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop Asser was clearly, but unsurprisingly, a biased reporter of King Alfred's life. The style is quite interesting and reads much like a journal highlighting key events during Alfred's life but occasionally delving into odd streams of trivial matters. Nevertheless, it is worth a read for those interested in early English history.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Asser provides a rare first person window into the life and times of 9th century Wessex and the character of the only "Great" King to rule in Britain. He has a task to accomplish, but he doesn't get right to it which is a relief to me. For, in the meandering path he takes to explain the deeds of the Great King are telling moments and appreciated context.

[Ash Giri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant read.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has been on my bookshelf for ages- definitely a man of the ages. Inspiring.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The monk who wrote it frequently went off topic talking about monasteries and never talked about King Alfred's death. It just kind of ends. Interesting.