Life of King Alfred

work by Asser

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June 17, 2026

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Asser's Life of King Alfred is a biography of Alfred the Great, king of Wessex from 871 to 899. Asser, a Welsh monk and scholar, became Alfred's friend and teacher, and was later appointed bishop. The biography details Alfred's life from birth up to 887, covering his reign and military campaigns, particularly his struggle against Viking invasions. A significant event was Alfred's victory at the Battle of Edington in 878, which secured Anglo-Saxon independence. Alfred also promoted learning and literacy, initiating the compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. While some scholars question Asser's authorship, this view is not widely accepted.123

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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. For historical events, it draws largely on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Some scholars…
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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. For historical events, it draws largely on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Some scholars…
Read More