The Cultural and Spiritual revival of the Anglo-Saxons during the Reign of King Alfred the Great
The Cultural and Spiritual revival of the Anglo-Saxons during the Reign of King Alfred the Great

Summary/Abstract: The fi rst years of King Alfred the Great’s reign were characterized by continuousattacks of the Vikings and by a general state of spiritual degradation. He managedto defend the country from the invading Danes and in a spiritual counter-offensive,brought to faith a part of the invaders settled on the island. One of the main concerns of Alfred, especially in the period of relative external tranquillity, was thereligious and cultural life of its people. The king established a strong school in hiscourt to get out of ignorance the children of the noble families and also took careto open religious and secular schools throughout the kingdom. In his attempt torefresh the religious life of the people, he founded three monasteries and broughtmonks from Europe to teach the Anglo-Saxon the real monastic life. Besides thecultural revival and stemming the tide of Viking invasions, Alfred gave his kingdom a code of laws, Alfred’s Doom and prepared the British union in one state,made in the 10th century.

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