The Political Thought of King Alfred the Great (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, Series Number 67)

This book is a comprehensive study of political thought at the court of King Alfred the Great (871-99). It explains the extraordinary burst of royal learned activity focused on inventive translations from Latin into Old English attributed to Alfred's own authorship. A full exploration of context establishes these texts as part of a single discourse which placed Alfred himself at the heart of all rightful power and authority. A major theme is the relevance of Frankish and other European experiences, as sources of expertise and shared concerns, and for important contrasts with Alfredian thought and behaviour. Part I assesses Alfred's rule against West Saxon structures, showing the centrality of the royal household in the operation of power. Part II offers an intimate analysis of the royal texts, developing far-reaching implications for Alfredian kingship, communication and court culture. Comparative in approach, the book places Alfred's reign at the forefront of wider European trends in aristocratic life. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 13 Note on citations 17 Chapter 1 Introduction 19 Part 1 The West Saxon Political Order 33 Chapter 2 Resources and extraction 35 West Saxon resources and royal power 35 Military service and the common burdens 40 Chapter 3 Royal lordship and secular office-holding 46 The king's thegns 47 The royal household 52 Gifts and gift-giving 56 Chapter 4 Royal lordship and ecclesiastical office-holding 62 A new accommodation: Royal monasteries and the council of Kingston (838) 63 The Southumbrian episcopate and the state of ecclesiastical discipline 66 Bishops as ‘the best king’s thegns’ 70 Royal priests in the royal household 72 Frankish ecclesiastical conditions and Carolingian kingship 76 Chapter 5 The articulation of power under King Alfreds predecessors 81 Collective office-holding: West Saxon royal devotion 81 Royal office-holding: The first English coronation order 90 The uses of literacy? 96 Sources of textual culture (1) ecclesiastical communities 100 Sources of textual culture (2) the West Saxon royal household 104 Chapter 6 The Impact of the vikings 111 Logistics of defence 112 Lordship and manpower 115 Land and landholding 117 Royal income and urban development 120 Collective security (1) 'king of the Anglo-Saxons' 123 Collective security (2) 'ruler of all the Christians of the island of Britain' 125 Part II Alfredian Discourse and its Efficacy 131 Chapter 7 The field of Alfredian knowledge 133 Alfredian innovation: Alfredian wisdom and the shift to vernacular prose 133 Intended audiences and the shift to vernacular literacy 138 Textual dissemination and the field of Alfredian knowledge 144 Chapter 8 The construction of Alfredian discourse 148 'Royal' production: Alfredian discourse and its distinctiveness 148 Languages of office-holding (1) Gregorian language 152 Languages of office-holding (2) Solomon's dream 169 The implications of Alfredian discourse 184 Chapter 9 Alfredian technology: books and Aedificia 197 Books and book production 197 Candle-lantern, fuller brooch and ‘ÆSTELS’ 203 Chapter 10 The Hierdeboc as a treatise of power 211 Language and contexts 212 The origin and purpose of power 214 The active and contemplative lives 222 The Hierdeboc and the Southumbrian episcopate 227 Chapter 11 The Domboc as a reorientation of royal law 232 Written law: authority and status 232 The construction of Alfredian judgement 236 The historical projection of secular law 240 The defence of lordship 250 The Domboc in practice 256 Chapter 12 Tribulation and triumph in the first fifty Psalms 260 Psalmody and royal devotion 260 Apparatus and voice 263 God, rihtwisnes and sinful enemies 270 Hardships and divine justice 274 Alfred's Psalms and Alfredian theatre 279 Chapter 13 The search for a satisfactory consolation 282 The Consolatio philosophiae in context 283 Royal translation and Carolingian expertise 288 Alfredian adaptation: 'mind', wisdom and 'worldly blessings' 298 Craft, tools and resources 305 Wyrd and divine justice 313 The Froferboc and alfredian theatre 320 Chapter 14 Seeing God as he is 326 The Soliloquia in context 327 Royal translation and Carolingian expertise 330 Alfredian adaptation: wisdom and the sight of God 335 Lordship and authority 345 Alfred's Soliloquies and alfredian theatre 350 Chapter 15 Conclusion 356 Appendix 369 Appendix West Frankish deployment of Solomon's dream 371 Bibliography 375 Manuscript sources 375 Printed sources 376 Printed secondary works 382 Unpublished papers 411 Unpublished phd dissertations 411 Index of manuscripts 413 General Index 415 This Book Is A Comprehensive Study Of Political Thought At The Court Of King Alfred The Great (871-99). It Explains The Extraordinary Burst Of Royal Learned Activity Focused On Inventive Translations From Latin Into Old English Attributed To Alfred's Own Authorship. A Full Exploration Of Context Establishes These Texts As Part Of A Single Discourse Which Placed Alfred Himself At The Heart Of All Rightful Power And Authority. A Major Theme Is The Relevance Of Frankish And Other European Experiences, As Sources Of Expertise And Shared Concerns, And For Important Contrasts With Alfredian Thought And Behaviour.--book Jacket. Resources And Extraction -- Royal Lordship And Secular Office-holding -- Royal Lordship And Ecclesiastical Office-holding -- The Articulation Of Power Under King Alfred's Predecessors -- The Impact Of The Vikings -- The Field Of Alfredian Knowledge -- The Construction Of Alfredian Discourse -- Alfredian Technology : Books And Ædificia -- The Hierdeboc As A Treatise Of Power -- The Domboc As A Reorientation Of Royal Law -- Tribulation And Triumph In The First Fifty Psalms -- The Search For A Satisfactory Consolation -- Seeing God As He Is -- Conclusion -- Appendix : West Frankish Deployment Of Solomon's Dream. David Pratt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 357-394) And Indexes.