Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read alfred the great. Assers life of king alfred and other contemporary sources by asser. Asser s life of king alfred follows alfred s career from his birth to his accession in 871, and describes in detail his reign and his wars, stopping abruptly in 887, 12 years before alfred s death. Asser s life is a onesided treatment of alfred, though since alfred was alive when it was composed, it is unlikely to contain gross errors of fact. The manuscript survived to modern times in only one copy, which was part of the cotton.
The project gutenberg ebook of the life and times of alfred the. Keynes, on the authenticity of assers life of king alfred, journal of. Download and read online for free asser s life of king alfred by cook, albert s. The work which bears assers name cannot be later than 974, and the attempt.
The life of king alfred by bishop asser is the earliest known source about an anglosaxon king, a king often known today as alfred the great r. Assers account of alfreds mysterious illnesses is one of the most puzzling and mostdiscussed passages in his life. The anglosaxon chronicle and asser s vita aelfredi, otherwise known as asser s life of king alfred. Introduction translation of the life of king alfred.
His work is both a translation of part of the anglosaxon chronicle for the years 851887, as well as eyewitness. A pdf copy of assers life of king alfred is available here external link. This biography of alfred the great provides detailed information about his childhood, life. Asser s life of king alfred is the earliest known biography of an anglosaxon king, and as such is an invaluable source for the study of early england. The former, in his life and times of alfred the great, oxford, 1902, says p. Although similar to the anglosaxon chronicle in its annalistic approach, asser personalized his life of king alfred so that the man, and not just the christian king who vanquished the paganistic heathen, was presented. A life of king alfred of england originally composed in latin, possibly sometime around 888 a. This article examines the connections between assers life of king alfred and the tenthcentury welsh poem armes prydein vawr. A pdf copy of asser s life of king alfred is available here external link. For example, world war ii with quotes will give more precise results than world war ii without quotes. It studies the use of the placename santwic sandwich in armes prydein, and presents evidence that this form derives from a written source. Saxons, at the royal village of wanating, 1 in berkshire, which country has its name from the wood of berroc, where the box.
Download and read online for free assers li fe of king alfred by cook, albert s. Phrase searching you can use double quotes to search for a series of words in a particular order. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. In addition to being the primary source for alfreds life, assers work is also a source for other historical periods, where he adds material to his translation of the anglosaxon chronicle. This book provides a reassessment of the famous ruler of wessex, informed by current scholarship, both on the king as a man in history, and the king as a subsequent legendary construct. Preface the issue of stevensons long and eagerly expected edition of asser s life of king alfred has provided an opportunity to supply the ever increasing number of the great kings admirers with a more satisfactory rendering into english of this, perhaps the most precious document, notwithstanding all its faults, for the comprehension of his life and character.
Ina went to rome, and there ending this life honourably, entered the heavenly kingdom, to reign there for. Assers life of king alfred follows alfreds career from his birth to his accession in 871, and describes in detail his reign and his wars, stopping abruptly in 887, 12 years before alfreds death. Along with asser s biography of king alfred and an incredibly extensive amount of footnotes there are also translations of religious and philosophical books. Photograph taken by mkooiman click image to go to original file. Asser s life of king alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest of medieval kings. Along with assers biography of king alfred and an incredibly extensive amount of footnotes there are also translations of religious and philosophical books. Asser s life differs also in its use of latin, not the vernacular that most sources from alfred s reign are written in. Asser was a welshman from st davids, who later became bishop of sherborne. Alfred the great was the king of the southern anglosaxon kingdom of wessex from 871 to 899. Full text of assers life of king alfred internet archive.
Composed by a monk of st davids in wales who became bishop of sherborne in alfred s service and worked with him in his efforts to revive religion and learning in his kingdom, this life is among the earliest surviving royal biographies. It isnot difficult tofind reasons why a man should choose towrite about the king at some time in his life time, rather than wait for his death. The primary source for alfred is his biography by asser, which i have scanned as a pdf file and placed on canvas under files, as asser s life of alfred. Composed by a monk of st davids in wales who became bishop of sherborne in alfreds service and worked with him in his efforts to revive religion and learning in his kingdom, this life is among the earliest surviving royal biographies. In 886, eager to learn latin, alfred summoned asser, who had acquired some reputation for learning, to his court in. In 893 asser wrote a biography of alfred, called the life of king alfred. In the first paragraph, asser notes that alfred was born in 849 at the royal estate named wantage within the berkshire district. About 885 he was asked by alfred the great to leave st davids and join the circle of learned men whom alfred was recruiting for his court.
Alfred was the son of king ethelwulf, who was the son of egbert, who was the son of elmund, who was the son of eafa, who was the son of eoppa, who was the son of ingild. Albert stanburrough, 18531927 at the best online ebook storage. Asser, welsh monk, chiefly remembered as the friend, teacher, counsellor, and biographer of alfred the great. Buy the annals of the reign of alfred the great ebook. The life of king alfred by asser colchester collection. The foundation of the english monarchy abstract alfred the great, one of the bestknown anglosaxon kings in england, set the foundation for the future english monarchy. Alfred the great is a rare historical figure from the early middle ages, in that he retains a popular image. The legend was interpolated in an edition of assers life of alfred, based on parkers text, which camden published in 16023.
Stevenson is to be congratulated upon the completion of his important task. Annals of the reign of alfred the great isbn 9781442935525. Assers life of king alfred and other contemporary sources ebook written by asser. The subtitle asser s life of king alfred and other contemporary sources is a great description of this book. This essay examines the practices and policies of his rule which left a lasting impact in.
The subtitle assers life of king alfred and other contemporary sources is a great description of this book. There is, next in importance to assers life, the anglosaxon chronicle. Ingild, and ina, the famous king of the westsaxons, were two brothers. The consequence of the educational and literary activity of alfred s reign was to transfer the centre of learning from northumbria to wessex. In the year of our lords incarnation 849, was born alfred, king of the anglo. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. And capable government in america preface the issue of stevensons long and eagerly expected edition of assers li fe of king alfred has provided an opportunity to supply the ever increasing number of the great kings admirers with a more satisfactory rendering into english of this, perhaps the most. This acclaimed book by asser is available at in several formats for your ereader. Asser s life of king alfred and other contemporary sources. Alfred the great, assers life of king alfred and other. Assers life of king alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest of medieval kings.
Asser s life of king alfred begins with asser s dedication of the work to alfred ruler of all the christians of the island of britain, king of the angles and saxons. He has translated the latin writings of aldhelm and is the author of numerous books on latin literature. Assers life of king alfred and other contemporary sources. Type book authors john asser, simon keynes, michael lapidge, asser date 1983 publisher penguin pub place harmondsworth volume penguin classics isbn10 0140444092. For historical events, it draws largely on the anglosaxon chronicle. Fortunately among the documents which have been preserved is alfreds own will, a most interesting relic, on which something will be said later39. Asser s life of king alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest medieval kings. He has at last given 11 a trustworthy text of bishop asser s life of king alfred,a life which, if con temporary, is of the first importance as a source of history in an age otherwise. He has at last given 11 a trustworthy text of bishop assers life of king alfred,a life which, if con temporary, is of the first importance as a source of history in an age otherwise.
Click download or read online button to get alfred the great book now. Alfreds public life began in 865 at age 16 with the accession of his third brother, 18yearold. Summary asser s life of king alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest of medieval kings. It is available freely on the internet or could be purchased via good book retailers with academic notes alongside. Alfred the great download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. During this period, bishop asser gave alfred the unique title of secundarius, which may indicate a position similar to the celtic tanist, a recognised successor closely. The consequence of the educational and literary activity of alfreds reign was to transfer the centre of learning from northumbria to wessex. Illness, power and prayer in assers life of king alfred researchgate. This chapter will focus on two such texts featuring alfred the great. Daniel anlezark presents alfred in his historical context, seen through asser s life, the anglo saxon chronicle, and other texts, and explores how this ninthcentury king of wessex came to be considered the great king of legend. One of the most important sources of information on alfred the great king of wessex from 871 to 899 is asser s the life of king alfred.
Although similar to the anglosaxon chronicle in its annalistic approach, asser personalized his life of king alfred so that the man, and not just the christian. Introduction, 48 but whereas asser s biography throws precious light on his subjects life, the life of the royal biographer is unfortunately obscure. In addition to being the primary source for alfred s life, asser s work is also a source for other historical periods, where he adds material to his translation of the anglosaxon chronicle. To the feiends of honest and capable government in america preface the issue of stevensons long and eagerly expected edition of assers life of king alfred has provided an opportunity to supply the ever increasing number of the great kings admirers with a more satisfactory rendering into english of this, perhaps the most. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Asser was a welsh monk who accepted a position in the court of king alfred around 886. There are various ways that arguments could be made, but i think that the one that makes the most sense is to discuss the longterm impact of charlemagnes and alfred s achievements. There are many historiographical texts detailing the events of alfred s life 849899 and reign 871899, and most of them are forms of propaganda.
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