King Alfred's Book of Laws: A Study of the Domboc and Its' Influence on English Identity, With a Complete Translation

During the early Middle Ages, King Alfred (reigned 871-99) gained fame as the ruler who brought learning back to England after decades of Viking invasion. Although analysis of Alfred's canon has focused on his religious and philosophical texts, his relatively overlooked law code, or Domboc, reveals much about his rule, and how he was perceived in subsequent centuries. Joining major voices in the fields of early English law and literature, this exploration of King Alfred's influential text traces its evolution from its 9th century origins to reappearances in the 11th, 12th, and 16th centuries. Alfred's use of the vernacular and representation of secular practices, this work contends, made the Domboc an ideal text for establishing a particularly "English" national identity. During the early Middle Ages, King Alfred (reigned 871-99) gained fame as the ruler who brought learning back to England after decades of Viking invasion. Although analysis of Alfred's canon typically focuses on his religious and philosophical texts, his relatively overlooked law code, or Domboc, reveals much about his rule, and how he was perceived in subsequent centuries. Joining major voices in the fields of early English law and literature, this exploration of King Alfred's influential text traces its evolution from its 9th century origins to reappearances in the 11th, 12th, and 16th centuries. Alfred's use of the vernacular and representation of secular practices, this work contends, made the Domboc an ideal text for establishing a particularly'English'national identity. During The Middle Ages, King Alfred (reigned 871-99) Gained Fame As The Ruler Who Brought Learning Back To England After Decades Of Viking Invasion. Although Analysis Of Alfred's Canon Has Focused On His Religious And Philosophical Texts, His Relatively Overlooked Law Code, Or Domboc, Reveals Much About His Rule, And How He Was Perceived In Subsequent Centuries--provided By Publisher. Kingship, Law, And National Identity In Ninth-century Wessex-- Reading The Laws : The Domboc In Its Earliest Context -- Eleventh And Twelfth Century Redeployments Of The Domboc -- The Parker Circle, The Domboc, And Reformation National Identity. Todd Preston. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 167-173) And Index. Cover 1 Table of Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 10 1. Kingship, Law, and National Identity in Ninth-Century Wessex 22 2. Reading the Laws 42 3. Eleventh and Twelfth Century Redeployments of the Domboc 66 4. The Parker Circle, the Domboc, and Reformation National Identity 90 Conclusion 108 Appendix 112 Reading the Domboc 112 King Alfred’s Domboc 113 Notes 156 Works Cited 174 Index 182