Asser
Overview
Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, was a key figure in the court of King Alfred the Great, and his contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of early medieval England cannot be overstated. His work as a chronicler and historian, as well as his commitment to learning and scholarship, have left an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual legacy of England, and his influence can still be felt today. While much of his work has been lost or destroyed, the legacy of Asser continues to inspire and inform scholars and historians around the world.
Biography
Asser was born in Wales in the late 9th century, and little is known about his early life. He was appointed Bishop of Sherborne by King Alfred in 893, and it was in this role that he became a trusted advisor to the king, as well as a scholar and historian. Asser was known for his erudition and his wide-ranging knowledge, and he was often called upon to advise the king on matters of law, literature, and history.
One of Asser’s most significant accomplishments was his work as a chronicler of the reign of King Alfred. Asser wrote a biography of the king that has been described as one of the most important historical works of the early Middle Ages. In this biography, Asser provides a detailed and nuanced portrait of King Alfred, highlighting his virtues as a ruler, his military achievements, and his commitment to learning and scholarship. Asser’s biography of King Alfred is a valuable historical document, and it provides an unparalleled glimpse into the world of early medieval England.
Image: Text in insular characters. Aelfredi regis res gestae. John Asser Published: 1574
In addition to his work as a chronicler, Asser was also a scholar and educator. He was known for his knowledge of Latin and Greek, as well as his understanding of the classics. Asser’s commitment to learning and scholarship was reflected in his work as a teacher and advisor to the king, and he played an important role in the development of the educational and cultural institutions of early medieval England.
Despite his accomplishments, Asser’s legacy has been somewhat overshadowed by the fact that much of his work has been lost or destroyed over time. Many of Asser’s writings were destroyed during the Viking invasions of England in the 10th century, and much of what remains of his work is fragmentary and incomplete. Nevertheless, Asser’s contributions to the intellectual and cultural life of early medieval England are still widely recognized, and his legacy continues to inspire scholars and historians to this day.
Alfred Jewel
In The Life of King Alfred, Asser provides valuable insights into King Alfred the Great’s efforts to revive learning and education in his kingdom. Asser writes that Alfred recognized the decline of knowledge and education in England due to the Viking invasions and the general neglect of learning. To address this, Alfred initiated several measures to restore intellectual and cultural life. He sought to promote learning among both the clergy and laypeople, believing that understanding the scriptures and Christian teachings was essential for the well-being of his kingdom.
Alfred invited scholars from different parts of Europe to his court, including Asser himself, to help with the revival of learning. These scholars assisted in translating important texts and educating the English people. Alfred emphasized the translation of key religious and philosophical texts from Latin into Old English to make them accessible to a wider audience. This included works like Pope Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Care. In the preface of this translation Alfred writes that each bishopric would recieve a copy of the book along with and æstel. It is believed that the Alfred Jewel is one of these æstels.
Image: The Alfred Jewel. Photo by William M. Connolley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alfred and the Candle Clock
According to Asser, Alfred the Great is said to have invented the “candle clock,” a simple timekeeping device that used marked candles to measure the passage of time. The concept was based on the fact that a candle burns at a relatively steady rate, allowing the user to estimate how much time has passed by measuring the amount of candle that has been consumed.
To make a candle clock, a candle was marked at regular intervals, usually every hour, with notches or lines indicating the amount of wax that should have burned down in that amount of time. The candle would be lit, and when it burned down to the first notch, an hour had passed. As the candle continued to burn and reach each subsequent notch, the user could tell how much time had elapsed.
While it is not entirely clear if King Alfred himself invented the candle clock or simply popularized its use, the device was widely used throughout medieval Europe as a way to tell time before the advent of mechanical clocks. Today, the candle clock is considered an interesting historical curiosity, but it remains a testament to the ingenuity of early inventors and their ability to create sophisticated technology using simple materials.
Related Topics
Further Research & References
Asser. The Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources. Translated by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge. Penguin Classics, 1983.
Simon Keynes, “Asser,” in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Alfred P. Smyth, King Alfred the Great, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 1995.
Frank M. Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press. 1971.
Michael Lapidge, “Asser and the Life of King Alfred,” in The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England, ed. Michael Lapidge, John Blair, Simon Keynes, and Donald Scragg. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
Photos:
Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Text in insular characters. Aelfredi regis res gestae. John Asser Published: 1574.
Odejea, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons