Alfred and Governance Flashcards
What do Alfred’s law codes demonstrate?
How he wished to apply his authority
What did Alfred emphasise in his law codes?
Oaths and loyalty - indicates he may have been suffering with disloyalty
When did Alfred master Latin?
887
What was Alfred’s law codes written in?
The vernacular and Latin - so everyone could read them
Whose law codes did Alfred reference in his own?
Inne of Wessex and Offa of Mercia as well a Old Saxon and Mosaic law
Can we tell if these laws were successful?
These are laws, not enforcement records. The true extent of success is unknown - but the laws were long lasting and there was little internal opposition during his reign. But we can’t how well enforced they were.
What did Alfred’s law codes assert him as?
“Guider of the English”
What was “trial by ordeal”?
Typically a specific challenge meant to decide whether a person was guilty - often not based in reality but showed Alfred cared about fairness and deemed God able to decide a person’s innocence
What happened to criminals in the new law codes?
They were allowed to live or be killed.
What was the state of England by Alfred’s death?
Survived full occupation, unity not based on equality.
Burhs = firm base, reformed monetary system
He was not the King of England
What may have been introduced in Alfred’s law codes?
Innocent until proven guilty. Innocence proven in judicial hearings through oaths - the one with more oaths is deemed to be the factually correct one. Undermines the poor, upholds the nobles.
Why may feuding be thought to have been a problem during Alfred’s reign?
King Alfred’s Law Code - feuding guidelines set out, suggests it was a growing problem. Tells to “besiege the enemy” and to avoid fighting as much as possible.
