The British Monarchy

Alfred encouraged learning. Education declined because the Danes had looted monas­teries and churches, the only centres of learning. Few even among the clergy could read or write. Alfred brought teachers and learned men from Wales, northern England, and Europe to Wessex. He himself helped translate books from Latin into Anglo-Saxon. He also kept a record of cur­rent events. Called the " Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", it was continued after his death until 1154. It was the best source for Anglo-Saxon history.

" The cultural and material havoc of these (Danish - O.L.) invasions can hardly be overes­timated. " So great was the decay of learning among Englishmen", Alfred lamented, " that there were very few on this side Humber and I seen not many north of it who could understand the ritual and translate a letter from Latin into English. No, I cannot remember one such, south of the Thames, when I came to the throne"....It is his successful efforts to arrest this decay even more than his military ability that mark Alfred as one of the greatest figures in English history....Alfred encouraged learned men to come from Europe and even from Wales and in middle age taught himself to read and write both in Latin and English, a feat that Charlemagne was never able to accomplish. He sought eagerly for the best knowledge that the age afforded and in a less illiterate time would probably have attained a really scientific outlook. Constantly in ill health, never long at peace, the extent of his work is remarkable, and his thoroughness is attested by the long period of peace that fol­lowed his death".

(" A People's History of England" by A.L. Morton)

"...In the winter of 878, a Danish force attacked the castle where Alfred was celebrating Christmas. Alfred and a small band of loyal sol­diers escaped and hid in the forest until Easter.

Alfred spent this time training and rebuild­ing his armies. Many legends have grown up about Alfred's adventures during those trying times. The most famous is the story of Alfred and the cakes. According to that legend, he took refuge in a forest hut. An old peasant woman who lived there asked him to watch the cakes baking in her oven while she went about her work. Alfred was so busy worrying about his kingdom and planting new battles that he let the cakes burn. When the woman returned, she gave Alfred a severe scolding. But he did not embar­rass her by telling her that he was the king.

...With the help of scholars, Alfred translat­ed several books from Latin into English. These were among the first books ever written in the language of the country, and were the foundation of English literature.

Edward the Confessor

Bom: Islip, 1004 Ascended the Throne: 8 June 1042 Coronation: Winchester, 3 April! 043 Married: Edith, daughter of Earl Godwine of Wessex Children: None Died: Westminster, 5 January 1066 Buried: Westminster Abbey

Edward the Confessor (1004-1066), the last English king descended from Alfred the Great, succeeded his half-brother, Hardecanute, in 1042. Edward was a weak ruler. Most of his reign was dominated either by his father-in-law, Godwin, Earl of the West Saxons, or by Norman advisers and friends whom he advanced to important governmental and church positions.

Edward was a pious man. He founded Westminster Abbey, which was completed in 1065. Pope Alexander III canonized him in 1161 with the title of Confessor.

Edward was childless, and the great problem of his later years was the succession to the throne. Wdliam, Duke of Normandy, claimed the throne by Edward's grant. Harold, Godwin's son, claimed it by Edward's deathbed concession

...When Alfred died, about 899, an unknown chronicler wrote, " There passed away Alfred the king... the famous, the warlike, the victorious, the careful provider for the widow, the helpless, the orphan and the poor; the most skilled of Saxon poets, most dear to his own nation, cour­teous to all, most liberal... most watchful and devout in his service of God".

(" The New Book of Knowledge")

" Alfred was one of the greatest men in the history of Britain. He combined courage and leadership in war with love of learning and law, and in reign of twenty-nine years he made him­self dearly loved by his people who, for genera­tions after his death, talked about the good days of his rule.

... This remarkable man also invented the candle-clock, the candle-lantern, and other gadgets, and he showed himself to be an expert on architectural matters.

Sad though it was when he died in 900, he left his kingdom in good order".

(" They Made History" by P.S. Fry)

and the choice of the nobles. The dispute made a war for the kingdom inevitable.

" The new king, Edward the Confessor, was a pious half-wit who had spent his youth as an exile in Normandy. When he returned he brought a train of Norman monks and nobles to whom he gave the best and richest bishoprics and lands. The history of his reign is one of con­stant struggle between the Norman influence at court and the power of the Godwins. The per­meation of England by the Normans was one of the main reasons for the ease with which their conquest was carried through."

(" A people's History of England" by A.L. Morton)

From the History of the British Monarchy