Post-Danelaw, Alfred remained aware that the Vikings had destructive potential, and though mutual respect existed, Alfred soon went about strengthening his armies and defences. He primarily looked to strengthen the Navy so as to ensure protection from any potential invaders, as well as discouraging any raids from Northumbrian Vikings. Alfred in fact, designed and implemented the construction of an innovative style of ship that was ‘swifter, steadier and also more responsive than the others’. Clearly this proves his intelligence, and willingness to work for victory as opposed to allowing other to simply do his bidding. This further implemented Alfred’s desire for fairness and justice, something that was prevalent throughout his social reform policies.
Alfred made sweeping changes to the operation of his main army, the fyrd, by splitting it into two shifts ‘so that there was always half at home and half out’ This allowed Alfred to constantly have a fresh army prepared to fight, thus reducing the speed and effectiveness of any invasion, were it to occur. For Alfred to successfully organise something so complex with very basic methods of communication and organisation must have taken very delicate planning, implementation and intelligence, another running theme in Alfred’s accomplishments.
Alfred’s military and social policies meet at the construction of buhrs across his Anglo-Saxon Kingdom. The general idea was that all people would be within 24 hours walk from a buhr, a fortified town which would be appropriately equipped to defend itself against Viking raids. As well as being a very intelligent idea that gave Alfred’s people better protection that previously. Alfred also financially assisted himself with this idea, by building permanently defended settlements it attracted trade and a small level of urbanisation. As a result of this it simplified the process of taxation, thus allowing Alfred to increase spending and fund his reforms. Additionally the building of the buhrs was a very large operation, it’s estimated that erecting the 9000 feet of defensive banks at the buhr in Wallingford would have taken approximately 120,000 man hours. Once again organisational skill would have been key, and Alfred demonstrated this with the quick construction of the buhrs so as to protect his people as rapidly as possible.
Arguable his most noteworthy social change was in law. Alfred compiled the ‘Doom Book’ from three prior Saxon codes, including the Mosaic Codes and Celtic Law. There are two reasons as to why this was such an important occurrence. Firstly it established fairness and justice throughout Alfred’s Kingdom; He stated that ‘You shall not be partial to the poor; nor defer to the great! But you are to judge you neighbour fairly!’ – This was naturally very popular with a vast majority of his subjects and induced loyalty to the King. This would have made the people more willing to follow Alfred, be it into battle, or supporting other decisions for instance in regards to tax. A second reason is that it formed the foundation for the Common Law – Sir Winston Churchill observed that ‘Alfred’s Code was amplified by his successors and grew into the body of Customary Law administered by the Shire and The Hundred Courts’. This in turn led to the charter of liberties administered by Henry I in 1100. The combination of laws that Alfred devised using his diplomatic and moral judgement eventually formed the basis of English Law for hundreds of years, an achievement surely deserving of being called ‘great’ in itself.
Alfred’s other main contribution to social change was the educational revolution that he brought about. Primarily, he translated several Latin texts into English, including ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’ of Boethius, the most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages, and Bede's ‘Ecclesiastical History of the English People’. The translation of such books meant that many more people could read the works of famous philosophers, historians etc, which resulted in the reduction in the sense of inferiority that was implied by the texts being entirely Latin. This also in turn aided the formation of an English identity and pride, giving the population a sense of pride that such important books were in their native language.
Alfred, a self-educated man, was also determined to spread education and he achieved this largely through the construction of schools. In addition to this he imported many top scholars such as Asser of South Wales and John the Saxon of Europe. This was successful in increasing and spreading literacy as well as increasing numbers of educated men such as historians and clergymen which aided the Anglo-Saxon England culturally. Alfred also commissioned the ‘Anglo-Saxon Chronicle’ which is of crucial importance. Historically, it provides us with virtually all information post-Romans and pre-Normans bar Bede’s ‘Ecclesiastical History of the English People (as translated by Alfred [page II paragraph V]). The chronicle also helped in the formation of an English identity, with the events occurring in relation to the kingdom being recorded in an innovative manner.
Alfred certainly gave much to society while taking little, the re-organisation of the army and navy as well as the formation of buhrs illustrates Alfred’s ability to manage large projects so as to protect his people. Furthermore his social reforms formed a solid groundwork for the building of an English society, culture and nation. His schools produced highly educated individuals capable of organising the country, translations developed pride, and his chronicle recorded it all for future generations to learn from and observe. Alfred’s idea of fairness and justice in the legal system regardless of wealth or power is one that still survives today (in theory) and his intelligence in the devising of the Danelaw was successful in dissuading potential invaders from the continent until many years after his death. Although the single achievements of Alfred may not suffice to call him ‘great’, a combination of the military and social effects upon his kingdom leading to it’s security and rapid cultural development surely results in Alfred ‘the Great’, being deservedly considered ‘Great’.
J.H. Kurtz: Church History, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1892
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
