Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Asser


Asser (died 909) was a Welsh monk and scholar from the clerical community of St David's in , who became a key figure in the court of King of and later of .
Recruited by Alfred around 884–885 to aid in his educational and cultural revival efforts amid Viking invasions, Asser divided his time between the royal court and St David's, eventually receiving oversight of the churches in and . He is principally remembered as the author of the Ælfredi regis Angul Saxonum, a Latin of Alfred blending , personal anecdotes, and hagiographic elements, composed between 885 and 893, with its last dated entry in 893; the work, left unfinished, served as a primary source for Alfred's life, military campaigns, scholarly pursuits, and reforms, though the original manuscript was destroyed in the fire of 1731. While traditionally attributed to Asser, the Vita's authenticity has been contested by some scholars, notably Alfred P. Smyth in 1995 who posited it as a 10th-century , but linguistic, , and contextual evidence has led to a prevailing consensus affirming its late-9th-century composition by Asser himself.

Early Life and Background

Origins and Name

Asser, whose full Latin name was Asserius Menevensis, originated from the kingdom of in southwestern , specifically the region of . He was born in the mid-9th century, though no precise date is recorded, and entered monastic life at St David's Cathedral (Menevia), the principal ecclesiastical center of . There he received his education under the guidance of kinsmen within the community, including a relation to Bishop Nobis of St David's. The name Asser reflects early medieval Christian naming conventions, likely drawn from the biblical figure Asher, the eighth son of , interpreted through patristic sources such as Jerome's onomasticon as meaning "blessed." Later traditions appended "John" to his name, yielding John Asser, possibly to align with hagiographic or episcopal records, though contemporary sources primarily use Asser or Asserius. This nomenclature underscores his Welsh clerical identity, tied to the Celtic monastic traditions of St David's before his involvement with the West Saxon court.

Monastic Education at St David's

Asser received his formative monastic education at the cathedral monastery of St David's (Menevia) in , southwestern , a prominent ecclesiastical center established in the sixth century by and serving as the seat of a bishopric with monastic traditions rooted in . From childhood, Asser was immersed in the monastery's community, where he underwent —the ritual marking entry into monastic life—and systematic training in clerical disciplines. In his Life of King Alfred (composed c. 893), Asser recounts that he was "bred up" (educatus) in the church of St David's, progressing through ecclesiastical orders under the guidance of local bishops, including , whom he credits with spiritual oversight. This training encompassed proficiency in Latin, essential for liturgical recitation, scriptural study, and composition, as evidenced by Asser's own fluent Latin prose blending British Insular styles with Carolingian influences. Monastic curricula at such Welsh establishments typically emphasized the —grammar, rhetoric, and dialectic—alongside exegesis, patristic texts, and computus for calculating ecclesiastical calendars, fostering scholars capable of preserving knowledge amid Viking disruptions. By the 880s, Asser's erudition had elevated him to of subsidiary houses like Llanbadarn and Cemais, reflecting mastery of administrative and pastoral duties alongside intellectual pursuits. His education at St David's, while provincially isolated, produced a versatile cleric whose command of secular (e.g., references to ) and hagiographical models distinguished him among ninth-century British scholars, preparing him for broader influence. This grounding in monastic rigor and learning contrasted with the era's widespread clerical illiteracy, underscoring St David's role in sustaining Welsh intellectual continuity.

Relationship with Alfred the Great

Recruitment to the Wessex Court

In the mid-880s, amid efforts to revive learning in following Viking invasions, King sought to assemble a group of scholars at his court, including figures from and the continent such as Grimbald and John the Old Saxon. Hearing of Asser's reputation for scholarship at St David's, Alfred dispatched noble envoys to invite him to join this circle, making repeated requests over several months. Asser initially refused twice, citing his deep ties to his monastic community and unwillingness to abandon his duties in for secular honors. On the third invitation, around 885, Asser set out but fell gravely ill en route, prompting him to halt at Caerwent for nearly a year of recovery under medical care. Upon partial , he proceeded eastward, guided by South Saxon escorts, and met at the royal vill of (likely modern in , near the ). There, pressed for Asser's full-time service, but Asser negotiated a compromise: alternating six months at court with six months at St David's, later refined to quarterly intervals to accommodate travel and obligations. consented, pledging resources and protection for St David's in exchange, including aid against local threats. This arrangement reflected Alfred's strategic prioritization of intellectual revival, as he personally engaged in teaching and learning despite chronic health issues, using Asser's Welsh Latin expertise to translate works and advise on and administrative reforms. Asser's partial commitment allowed him to maintain Welsh ties while contributing to , marking the start of his advisory role that extended to drafting charters and fostering initiatives.

Scholarly and Advisory Role

Asser arrived at Alfred's court in 885, having been recruited by the king to bolster the intellectual and educational efforts amid Wessex's cultural revival following Viking invasions. His primary role involved scholarly service, including tutoring the king personally in Latin literacy, a skill Alfred pursued intensively after November 11, 887, when he resolved to study books in that language during intervals of royal duties. As a learned cleric from St David's, Asser brought expertise in Latin texts and monastic scholarship, aligning with Alfred's program to translate key works—such as Pope Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care—into Old English for broader accessibility among clergy and laity. In advisory capacities, Asser participated in the court's scholarly circle, which Alfred assembled by inviting clerics from and the to produce vernacular renditions of essential Christian and texts, fostering administrative and moral education. He divided his time between the and his Welsh , committing initially to six months annually in , where he contributed to discussions on learning's value and its application to governance, reflecting 's view that wisdom underpinned effective rule. Asser's influence extended to drafting and reforms, leveraging his background to aid in integrating Welsh perspectives into Wessex's strategies against shared threats. This role underscored 's prioritization of education as a bulwark against cultural decline, with Asser deemed indispensable for his pedagogical and interpretive skills.

Ecclesiastical Advancement

Bishopric of Sherborne

Asser received monastic foundations, including between 887 and 892, from as rewards for his scholarly service before his elevation to the episcopate. He was appointed Bishop of around 893, succeeding Wulfsige, though his first attestation as bishop appears in charters from 900. This reflected 's trust in Asser, extending his advisory role into over a expansive diocese that included Dorset, , , and . During his tenure, Asser maintained oversight of these western territories, which had been consolidated under since its establishment as a see in 705 upon the division of . He attested West Saxon charters, linking his episcopal authority to royal diplomatic efforts, and likely contributed to the integration of Welsh clerical influences into Anglo-Saxon church administration given his origins at St David's. No major reforms or conflicts are directly attributed to his leadership in surviving records, but his position facilitated continued collaboration with on educational and defensive initiatives amid Viking pressures. Asser died in 909, after which the overburdened Sherborne diocese was subdivided: Dorset retained Sherborne, Somerset formed the new see of Wells, and Devon with Cornwall established Crediton, easing administrative strains from territorial expansion. This restructuring underscored the evolving ecclesiastical map of Wessex under Alfred's successors, with Asser's see reduced but enduring as a key center of Benedictine tradition.

Principal Work: The Life of King Alfred

Composition and Structure

Asser's Vita Ælfredi regis Angul Saxonum, composed in Latin circa 893, draws extensively from the , incorporating direct translations of its annals for historical events, augmented by Asser's personal knowledge gained from annual visits to Alfred's court starting in 885 and his residence there from 886 onward, as well as oral accounts from contemporaries. The biography totals 106 chapters and follows a predominantly chronological framework, tracing Alfred's life from ancestry to events of 893, while featuring digressions on themes such as his afflictions, learning initiatives, and moral qualities to underscore his exemplary kingship. Chapters 1–2 delineate Alfred's lineage, extending to mythical forebears like and before focusing on West Saxon kings. Chapters 3–22 recount his birth on the isle of in 849, childhood illnesses, education under scholars, and early travels to in 853 and 855. The narrative then shifts to his adulthood and reign, with chapters 23–42 covering his , paternity, and pre-accession roles amid familial successions. Military exploits dominate chapters 43–72, paralleling entries on Viking invasions from 871, including Alfred's , the flight to , victory at Edington in 878 (chapter 56), and the subsequent baptism of . The concluding chapters 73–106 diverge into non-chronological asides on Alfred's promotion of literacy, translation projects, judicial reforms, and monastic foundations, interspersed with 893's Danish incursions, before terminating mid-event, suggesting incomplete revision. This hybrid structure blends hagiographic praise with pragmatic , influenced partly by Einhard's .

Key Content and Themes

Asser's Vita Ælfredi chronicles King Alfred's life from his birth in 849 to events up to 893, blending annals of Viking invasions with personal vignettes of the king's character and reforms. The narrative opens with Alfred's royal genealogy tracing back to Cerdic, emphasizing his noble West Saxon lineage, followed by accounts of early Danish raids starting in 835 at Sheppey and escalating to major incursions like the Great Heathen Army's arrival in 865. Key military episodes include the in 871, where Alfred led the successful charge against the , and his amid familial deaths, portraying him as a reluctant yet divinely supported ruler who unified resistance. The text details Alfred's strategic victories, such as the 878 campaign culminating in the , but intersperses these with non-chronological asides on his chronic illnesses from childhood, interpreted as trials testing his piety, and his innovative time management dividing days into thirds for prayer, royal duties, and learning. Central to the biography is Alfred's promotion of scholarship amid warfare; Asser describes how the king, despite illiteracy until adulthood, memorized books after hearings and recruited Continental scholars like Grimbald of St Bertin and John the Old Saxon to establish schools and translate works into , fostering a cultural . Anecdotes highlight Alfred's , such as gifting books to his children and composing metrical compositions, underscoring his vision of learned kingship as a bulwark against barbarism. The work omits internal Wessex dissent or Alfred's punitive measures against laggards, presenting a unified realm under his wise rule. Thematically, Asser models Alfred on Carolingian exemplars like Charlemagne in Einhard's Vita Karoli, depicting him as an ideal Christian monarch who integrates martial prowess, spiritual devotion, and wisdom—brave in battle yet resourceful in peace, pious amid afflictions, and a "truthteller" advancing truth through education. Divine providence recurs as a motif, with Alfred's survival of infancy sicknesses and battlefield perils attributed to God's favor, framing his reign as a sacred defense of Christendom against pagan invaders. This hagiographic emphasis elevates Alfred's personal virtues—humility, generosity, justice—over mere chronology, justifying his greatness through moral and intellectual exemplarity rather than conquest alone, though Asser's Welsh perspective subtly integrates British ecclesiastical ties.

Manuscripts and Textual Transmission

The sole surviving manuscript of Asser's Vita Ælfredi regis Angul-Saxonum was British Library MS Cotton Otho A. xii, copied in England around 1000 AD. This , which opened with Asser's followed by other texts, was almost entirely destroyed in the Cotton Library fire at Ashburnham House on 23 1731. Prior to its loss, the manuscript had been examined and transcribed by Renaissance scholars, including John Leland in the 1530s, whose notes reflect evolving assessments of Asser's authorship. Archbishop commissioned a 16th-century transcript preserved in , College MS 100, while 18th-century facsimiles captured remaining legible portions. Modern editions, such as William Henry Stevenson's 1904 text, rely on these pre-fire copies, incorporating scholarly emendations for scribal errors and ambiguities, as analyzed by figures like Dorothy Whitelock and G. H. Wheeler. The textual tradition is exceptionally narrow, with no other medieval manuscripts attested, suggesting limited circulation beyond Alfred's court in the late . This scarcity may stem from the work's dedicatory nature, composed circa 893 for a specific rather than broad dissemination, contrasting with more widely copied chronicles like the . The absence of variants across copies simplifies reconstruction but heightens reliance on the fidelity of early transcripts.

Scholarly Debates and Authenticity

Evidence Supporting Genuineness

The sole surviving medieval manuscript of Asser's Life of King , British Library Cotton Otho A.xii, has been paleographically dated to circa 1000 AD by scholars such as Humfrey Wanley, placing it within a century of the text's claimed composition in 893 and closer than typical for later forgeries. Textual errors in this manuscript, such as omissions shared with later adaptations like Florence of Worcester's chronicle, indicate derivation from an early exemplar predating 1000 AD rather than invention in the . Linguistic analysis reveals an ornate Latin style with recondite vocabulary and Welsh-influenced phrasing—such as precise naming of Welsh kings and places—that aligns with a 9th-century cleric from St David's rather than an English monastic forger like Bishop Leofric of , who lacked such regional expertise. Vocabulary overlaps between the Life and authentic late-9th-century West Saxon charters, including rare terms like consiliarius for advisor and specific diplomatic phrasing, suggest the same authorial hand active in Alfred's court, inconsistent with post-900 fabrication. Historical details provide independent corroboration: the account of Alfred's (chapter 29) matches from the 880s, while Welsh submissions in 893 (chapter 80) align with Annales Cambriae entry for 894, reflecting eyewitness access unavailable to later interpolators. The biography's self-avowed composition date of 893 (chapter 91), abrupt termination mid-year without later events like Alfred's death in 899, and inclusion of personal anecdotes from Asser's biennial visits starting in 885, evince an unfinished contemporary work rather than retrospective . These elements, including chronological anomalies like mismatched regnal years that a forger might rationalize, underscore authenticity over contrived perfection.

Forgery Claims and Counterarguments

Forgery claims regarding Asser's Life of King Alfred emerged prominently in the late 20th century, with historian Alfred P. Smyth arguing in his 1995 monograph King Alfred the Great that the text was fabricated around 1000 CE by the monk Byrhtferth of Ramsey Abbey. Smyth cited linguistic inconsistencies, such as the use of late Old English glosses and rhythmic prose patterns more typical of 10th- or 11th-century hagiography, alongside apparent anachronisms like the portrayal of Alfred's scholarly pursuits, which Smyth contended exaggerated the king's learning to align with later monastic agendas. He further proposed that the forger aimed to bolster Ramsey's prestige by interpolating details linking Alfred to regional ecclesiastical interests, including the promotion of Evesham Abbey's claims. Earlier 19th- and early 20th-century skeptics, including some textual critics, had questioned the work's authenticity due to its polished Latin amid sparse contemporary sources, but these views were largely dormant until Smyth's revival. Smyth's posits that the sole surviving , British Library Cotton Otho A xii (destroyed in 1731 but known from copies), shows signs of 11th-century fabrication, including omissions of Viking successes that a genuine 9th-century author would not ignore. Counterarguments emphasize the text's internal consistency with 9th-century West Saxon history, including verifiable details like Alfred's 878-879 campaigns and scholarly circle, corroborated by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Dorothy Whitelock, in her 1968 analysis "The Genuine Asser," defended its authenticity by noting the improbability of a forger inventing Welsh name forms (e.g., "Guorhthegyrn" for Vortigern) alien to English monastic traditions, alongside the abrupt ending in 893 that aligns with Asser's departure from court. Manuscript evidence supports this: 11th-century additions by Byrhtferth himself in related texts imply the Life's core predates him, as he treated it as an authoritative source rather than his invention. Linguistic defenses highlight the 's hybrid Latin-Brythonic style, feasible for a Welsh cleric like Asser but unlikely for an English forger, with early 20th-century scholars like William Henry Stevenson affirming its stylistic fit for c. 893 composition. Recent paleographic and diplomatic studies of Alfredian charters, including verbal parallels in preambles, further anchor the Life to late 9th-century authorship, undermining forgery hypotheses by linking Asser directly to court documentation practices. While Smyth's critique prompted reevaluation, the preponderance of interdisciplinary evidence—historical, linguistic, and manuscript-based—sustains scholarly consensus for genuineness, viewing the text as a primary 9th-century source despite its hagiographic elements.

Other Attributions, Legends, and Legacy

Possible Involvement in Charters and Additional Writings

Asser, appointed bishop of around 893, attested multiple West Saxon charters during the final years of Alfred's reign and under , reflecting his status as a senior ecclesiastical figure in the . His attestations begin in 900, following those of his predecessor Wulfsige in 892, and continue until shortly before his death in 908 or 909. One such document, issued by , granted Asser three estates in in exchange for land at , underscoring his administrative influence. Linguistic analysis of West Saxon diplomas reveals shared vocabulary and phrasing with Asser's Life of King , prompting scholars to propose his possible role in composing or drafting certain charters, particularly those emphasizing grants or territorial details aligned with Sherborne's interests. This connection is tentative, relying on stylistic overlaps rather than direct attribution, and aligns with Asser's documented proximity to the royal court and learning circle. Beyond the Life, no other independent literary works are securely attributed to Asser, though his biography describes his contributions to Alfred's educational reforms, including potential assistance in translating Latin texts such as Gregory the Great's . Such involvement would fit his scholarly profile but lacks explicit confirmation in surviving prefaces or colophons.

Legend of Oxford's Founding

A legend attributes to Asser the role of advising King to establish an early scholarly institution at in 872, purportedly the precursor to the . According to this account, Asser persuaded Alfred to summon learned men from , , and to form a community of scholars there, fostering education amid the king's efforts to revive learning after Viking invasions. This narrative appears in a passage interpolated into Asser's Life of King Alfred by the in his 1603 edition, which Camden presented as part of the original text to emphasize Oxford's ancient origins. Earlier manuscripts of Asser's work, dating from the onward, contain no such reference, and scholars have long identified the addition as Camden's fabrication, likely motivated by 17th-century interest in linking English institutions to pre-Norman . The legend lacks historical corroboration; Alfred's documented educational initiatives focused on translating works into and establishing monastic schools, such as at , but no evidence supports organized higher learning at during his reign (871–899). The University of Oxford's formal emergence occurred centuries later, around 1096–1167, with teaching evidenced by the arrival of scholars fleeing and the establishment of early colleges like in 1249.

Death and Enduring Historical Impact

Asser served as bishop of from approximately 895 until his death in 909. His passing is recorded in the under the year 910, though contemporary Welsh annals such as the Annales Cambriae date it to 908, with most scholarly consensus favoring 909 as the precise year. No specific is documented in surviving sources, suggesting it resulted from natural age-related decline after a career marked by and scholarly duties. Asser's enduring historical impact derives principally from his Vita Ælfredi, composed around 893, which provides the sole contemporary biographical narrative of King Alfred's life, detailing his , military victories against Viking incursions, administrative reforms, and promotion of learning. Unlike the annalistic , Asser's work personalizes Alfred's character, emphasizing his piety, intellectual pursuits, and resilience, thereby shaping subsequent portrayals of Alfred as a foundational figure in English identity and resistance to Scandinavian conquest. This biography has informed key interpretations of ninth-century Anglo-Saxon history, including Alfred's translation projects, legal codes, and burh fortifications, offering causal insights into how his policies preserved Wessex amid existential threats. Its survival in medieval manuscripts, despite textual variants, underscores Asser's role in bridging Welsh and English scholarly traditions, influencing later chroniclers and historians in reconstructing the era's causal dynamics of cultural and political consolidation. Modern analyses continue to rely on it for evidence of Alfred's strategic adaptations, though cross-verified against charters and to mitigate potential hagiographic elements.

References

  1. [1]
    ASSER (died 909), bishop and scholar | Dictionary of Welsh Biography
    He belonged to the clerical community of S. Davids, where he was brought up and educated, being a relative of bishop Nobis, who died in 873. In due course, he ...
  2. [2]
    Asser and the Writing of West Saxon Charters - Oxford Academic
    Oct 16, 2021 · First, they add significant weight to the view that Asser's Life is an authentic text of the late ninth century. Secondly, they provide rare ...
  3. [3]
    Asser | Monastic Life, Law & Scholarship - Britannica
    Aug 28, 2025 · Asser (died c. 909) was a Welsh monk, chiefly remembered as the friend, teacher, counsellor, and biographer of Alfred the Great.Missing: Vita Alfredi<|separator|>
  4. [4]
    CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: John Asser - New Advent
    Later, Asser received a grant of Exeter, and was made Bishop of Sherborne, before 900. Asser wrote a life of Alfred (Annales rer. gest. Alfredi Magni) in ...
  5. [5]
    [PDF] The Life of King Alfred ASSER - Delphi Classics
    In 893 Asser commenced work on his biography of Alfred, written in Latin, with the title Vita Ælfredi regis Angul Saxonum. The date is known from Asser's.Missing: Alfredi | Show results with:Alfredi
  6. [6]
    Asser's Life of King Alfred - Project Gutenberg
    To my lord Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, the worshipful and pious ruler of all Christians in the island of Britain, Asser, least of all the servants of God, ...Missing: Vita | Show results with:Vita
  7. [7]
    The education of the cleric, I (Chapter 6)
    The aim of these two chapters is to show how the organisational framework of education influenced individual clerics and their careers.
  8. [8]
    [PDF] The Genuine Asser by Dorothy Whitelock - MGH-Bibliothek
    It is no accident that we know more about King Alfred than about any other. Anglo-Saxon king. He differed from all other kings in leaving writings of.<|separator|>
  9. [9]
    Asser's reading | 12 | Alfred the Great | Michael Lapidge | Taylor & F
    According to c. 79 of his Vita Ælfredi, Asser, sometime bishop of St David's in Wales, first met King Alfred at Dean in Sussex, probably in 885, and was.Missing: Alfredi | Show results with:Alfredi
  10. [10]
    Asser's Life of Alfred - jstor
    Alfred's life​​ According to Asser's biography, the future king saw the light of day in 849, in the royal village of Wanating (Wantage), Berkshire, as son of the ...
  11. [11]
    [PDF] The Vita Alcuini, Asser and Scholarly Service at the Court of Alfred ...
    Keynes, 'Review Article: On the Authenticity of Asser's Life of King Alfred ... Asser's “Vita Alfredi”'; T.M. Kalmar, 'Asser's Imitatio of. Page 5. 5.Missing: consensus | Show results with:consensus
  12. [12]
    The Vita Alcuini, Asser and Scholarly Service at the Court of ... - jstor
    The pursuit of learning at the court of King Alfred the Great (r. 871–. 899) has long been a subject of scholarly debate and public fascination.
  13. [13]
    The _Vita Alcuini_, Asser and Scholarly Service at the Court ... - Apollo
    Unlike many of his Carolingian counterparts, Asser's biography features himself as a major character, providing an account of his journey to Alfred's service.Missing: Alfredi | Show results with:Alfredi
  14. [14]
    Asser - The Anglo-Saxons
    Jun 13, 2024 · Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, was a key figure in the court of King Alfred, and contributed to the historical and cultural legacy of England.
  15. [15]
    https://www.academic.oup.com/ehr/article/136/581/773/6398325
  16. [16]
    [PDF] A COMPARISON OF EINHARD'S VITA KAROLI MAGNI AND ... - SOAR
    Some scholars maintain that Asser also imitated a classical source, Plutarch, when writing his biography of Alfred. This imitation is not as readily proven as ...
  17. [17]
    The Mirror Stage: Reforming Royal and Monastic Households, c.800 ...
    May 13, 2024 · The annalistic sequence of one chapter per year resumes in chapter 44 (872) and continues up to chapter 72 (885). In chapter 73, Asser signalled ...
  18. [18]
    Asser on the character of Alfred the Great - The History of England
    Nov 16, 2016 · One of the features of Alfred's reign was his focus on the vernacular rather than simply relying on Latin as the language of communication, and ...Missing: evidence | Show results with:evidence
  19. [19]
    Asser's Imitatio of Einhard: Clichés, Echoes, and Allusions - jstor
    Reading the Vita Ælfredi as literature, Walter Berschin advances the current paradigm shift in attitudes towards Asser's achievement, enabling modern readers ...Missing: themes | Show results with:themes
  20. [20]
    Alfred the Great: The Most Perfect Man in History?
    Oct 10, 1999 · Asser presented Alfred as the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. Alfred was the 'truthteller', a brave, resourceful, ...Missing: recruitment | Show results with:recruitment
  21. [21]
    John Leland and Asser's Vita Ælfredi regis: British Library, MS ...
    Jan 24, 2023 · 'All this is clear from the history by Asser of St Davids, who accurately recorded the deeds of Alfred', De uiris illustribus, ed. Carley ...
  22. [22]
    [PDF] the institutional afterlives of medieval manuscripts | Cambridge Core
    tion of Asser's Life of Alfred, the work with which (before the infamous fire of 1731) Otho A.xii began, and it was, as it happens, the manuscript I had.
  23. [23]
    Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 100: Transcripts (16th ...
    XII, a manuscript which was destroyed by a fire in Sir Robert Cotton's library in 1731. Asser (d. 909), was the bishop of Sherborne and several works ascribed ...
  24. [24]
    Matthew Parker: The Book as Archive | History of Humanities
    The manuscript from which Parker worked, Cotton Otho A XII, was destroyed in the Cotton Library fire in 1731. But an eighteenth-century facsimile shows that ...
  25. [25]
    On the Authenticity of Asser's Life of King Alfred - Academia.edu
    K ing Alfred the Great (871-99) can be approached more closely than almost any other inhabitant of Anglo-Saxon England. Our knowledge is founded upon the ...
  26. [26]
    "A Thousand Years of Deceit": The New Debate Surrounding the ...
    Nov 30, 2008 · “A Thousand Years of Deceit”: The New Debate Surrounding the Authenticity of Asser's Life of King Alfred. By Ryan Pederson.Missing: Vita Alfredi
  27. [27]
    A Forger Observed | King Alfred the Great - Oxford Academic
    This is the work of a forger weaving a web of historical deceit. Nor was the motif solely to promote the claims of Evesham. For Byrhtferth, forgery would seem ...
  28. [28]
    Historians at odds over claim that Alfred the Great's `Life' was a fake
    Mar 24, 1996 · The trouble is, as Professor Smyth points out, that the only evidence for the connection is in Asser. If Asser is a fake, maybe the statue ...
  29. [29]
    ASSER'S LIFE OF KING ALFRED.* » 17 Sep 1904 »
    He has at last given 1113 a trustworthy text of Bishop Asser's Life of King Alfred,—a Life which, if con- temporary, is of the first importance as a source of ...
  30. [30]
    It is authentic | Times Higher Education (THE)
    His solution is to dispose of the Life as a later forgery. He first explains that previous challenges to the authenticity of Asser have been suppressed by a ...
  31. [31]
    What are the obvious examples of Bishop Asser's bias on his book ...
    Jan 8, 2022 · Almost nothing is known of Asser's early life. The name Asser is likely to have been taken from Aser, or Asher, the eighth son of Jacob in ...Missing: origin etymology
  32. [32]
    Asser - Wikipedia
    Asser was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's ...
  33. [33]
    The West Saxon charters of King Aethelwulf and his sons - Gale
    One might be disposed to assume that the (undated) charter recording King Edward's grant of three estates in Somerset to Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, in exchange ...
  34. [34]
    The Origin of the University of Oxford - jstor
    Another house of secular canons, known as St. George's College, had been founded within the castle precincts by Robert D'Oili, the builder of the castle, as.Missing: legend | Show results with:legend
  35. [35]
    Medieval Sourcebook: Asser's Life of King Alfred
    Asser's "Life" differs also in its use of Latin, not the vernacular that most sources from Alfred's reign are written in. In the year of our Lord's ...Missing: teaching evidence