![]() Much of it is beautifully illustrated and it is often regarded as Alfred's greatest achievement. ![]() This awareness of the acute lack of Saxon books probably led his to have written a series of histories, each compiled in a different monastery, each added to year-on-year-that have come to be known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Latin, could be read and spoken only by church officials and understood by a mere handful of Wessex clergy. It also had a near-monopoly on the acquisition of knowledge as its official language. The Church of Rome wielded immense power and its influence extended to almost every aspect of Saxon life. Known as a modest man, he must have been acutely aware of his own lack of learning and seen how important literate lieutenants were to an effective government. The huge diplomatic center of Western Europe would have made a huge impression on the boy Alfred. Rome was still an awe-inspiring city despite the ravages of repeated sackings by barbarian hordes. Their shared love of knowledge must have created a close bond between father and his youngest son, and Alfred accompanied Ethelwulf on a pilgrimage to Rome, an arduous journey taking two years. ![]() King Ethelwulf was a devout Christian and is believed to have been a monk, pursuing a life of study at Winchester's monastery while Alfred's grandfather reigned. Alfred found a tutor, learned to read it aloud, and won the rare book when he was only six years old. One of the many stories that illustrate Alfred's aptitude tells of how his mother, Osburh, showed her sons a beautifully illuminated book of Saxon poetry and promised to make a gift of it to the first of them to read it. ![]()
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