ALFRED THE GREAT
=Literature.=--_Ferris_, Great Leaders; _Lord_, Beacon Lights;
_Mombert_, Great Lives; _Spofford_, Library of Historical Characters;
_Green_, History of the English People.
=History and Character.=--Alfred became king of the West Saxons in 871
at the age of twenty-three. As a boy he had already shown remarkable
energy and ability, and as a man he more than fulfilled the promise of
his early years. England was divided into several kingdoms, the Danes
having taken possession of the eastern part of the island. Alfred
carried on war against them for many years with varying success, until
he made peace by skillful diplomacy in giving them territory. He
afterward showed remarkable statesmanship in winning them to peaceful
acquiescence in his sovereignty, and thus he came to rule over united
England.
He laid the foundation of England's naval greatness by building ships to
defend the country against Danish pirates. Many stories are told of his
simplicity, his perseverance, his strategy in defeating his enemies, and
the love with which he inspired his people. Karl Schmidt says, "Alfred,
as victor in fifty-six battles, as lawgiver, as king and sage, as
Christian and man, as husband and father, is rightly called--'The
Great.'"
He was very methodical in his habits, and divided his day into three
equal parts of eight hours each: eight hours he gave to government,
eight hours to religious devotion and study, and the other eight hours
to sleep, recreation, and the recuperation of his body.
=Education.=--Alfred did not learn to read until twelve years of age.
His mother then stimulated him by the promise of a book to that one of
her sons who should first commit to memory a Saxon poem. With
indomitable energy he mastered reading, learned the poem, and secured
the prize. Throughout his life he gave much attention to literary
matters. He translated many portions of the Bible, as well as other
books, into Anglo-Saxon, and encouraged literary efforts in others.
Without doubt the intellectual activity of Charlemagne acted as a spur
to Alfred's personal ambition and to his desire to elevate his people.
Although he did not follow the example of Charlemagne in seeking
universal education for his people, he did urge that the children of
every freeman should be able to read and write, and should have
instruction in Latin. The distinction thus made in the purposes of these
two great rulers has been perpetuated till the present time, the Germans
encouraging universal education, while the English have attended chiefly
to the education of the higher classes. Alfred established many
monasteries and made them centers of learning. It seems clear that he
assisted in laying the foundations from which Oxford University grew. He
left his impress upon the English people as no other ruler has done,
implanting love for law, justice, freedom, national honor, and the
domestic virtues which characterize that nation. His influence is felt
upon English institutions to this day.