The West: Fragmentation and Resilience - Western Kingship in an Age of Fragmentation - England

7 important questions on The West: Fragmentation and Resilience - Western Kingship in an Age of Fragmentation - England

What did king Alfred of England do in the face of Viking invasions?

In the face of Viking invasions, he developed new mechanisms of royal government, creating institutions that became the foundation of English royal power.

What are the causes of England's troubles?

The causes of England's troubles were the sins of its people, brought on by their ignorance.

What did Alfred do to educate people?

  • He brought scholars to his court and embarked on an ambitious program to translate key religious works from Latin into Old English, the vernacular.
  • Vernacular was the spoken language of the people, but it also served some literary and administrative needs, and Alfred determined to increase its use.
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What was Alfred's inspiration for the Danelaw?

The king's inspiration was the Mosaic law of the Bible. He believed that God had made new covenant with the victors over the Vikings; as leader of his people, Alfred, like the Old Testament patriarch Moses, handed down a law for all.

In what was the English kingdom divided?

The whole kingdom was divided into districts called "shires" and "hundreds," and in each shire, the king's reeve - the sheriff - oversaw royal administration.

In what kingdom did Ethelstan come into?

  • Alfred's grandson Ethelstan (r.924-939) took advantage of all the institutions that early medieval kingship offered.
  • The first king to unite all the English kingdoms, he was crowned in a new ritual created by the archbishop of Canterbury to emphasize harmony and unity. 

How much power did Ethelstan have?

Ethelstan had not that much power over England. The dynatoi might sometimes chafe at the emperor's directives and rebel, but the emperor had his Varangian Guard to put them down and an experienced, professional civil service to do his bidding.

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