The which led to an English victory here will be discussed ‘divine inspiration’ further below, but for now we should note that this account of the siege at Countisbury demonstrates a remarkable reversal in fortune in the which heralds the Life Alfred’s king’s emergence from exile. Without proffering extensive details, Asser tells us in c.55 that after Easter of 878 Alfred established a stronghold at Athelney, manned by the few men who accompanied him in league with the thegns of Somerset. From here he appears to have led small skirmishes against Viking forces, and though no specifics are given in the or the efforts seem to have drawn the attention of both present and Life ASC, Alfred’s potential supporters, whose reception of the king at is mentioned in both Egbert’s Stone the and the ASC Life. 7 him to comman þær ongen Sumorsæte alle 7 Wilsætan 7 878 ASC ‘A’ Hamtunscir se del se hiere behinon se was 7 his gefægene wærun there came to meet him all the people of Somerset and of Wiltshire …and and of that part of Hampshire which was on this side of the sea, and they rejoiced to see him. c.55 Ibique obviaverunt illi omnes accolae Summurtunensis pagae et VÆ Wiltunensis, omnes accolae Hamtunensis pagae, qui non ultra mare pro metu paganorum navigaverant; visoque rege, sicut dignum erat, quasi redivivum post tantas tribulationes recipientes, immenso repleti sunt gaudio. And there all the inhabitants of Somerset and Wiltshire and all the inhabitants of Hampshire those who had not sailed overseas for fear of – the Vikings joined up with him. When they saw the king, receiving him – (not surprisingly) as if one restored to life after suffering such great tribulations, they were filled with immense joy. account of reception echoes closely that of the father, Asser’s Alfred’s king’s son attempted to prevent Ӕthelwulf, whose Ӕthelbald (Alfred’s eldest brother) Ӕthelwulf from returning to his rightful throne in 856, as discussed above. return Upon Æthelwulf’s from Rome, and presumably after dealing with the conspiracy to prevent his return, Asser
The ‘divine inspiration’ which led to an English victory here will be discussed further below, but for now we should note that this account of the siege at Countisbury demonstrates a remarkable reversal in Alfred’s fortune in the Life which heralds the king’s emergence from exile. Without proffering extensive details, Asser tells us in c.55 that after Easter of 878 Alfred established a stronghold at Athelney, manned by the few men who accompanied him in league with the thegns of Somerset. From here he appears to have led small skirmishes against Viking forces, and though no specifics are given in the Life or the ASC, Alfred’s efforts seem to have drawn the attention of both present and potential supporters, whose reception of the king at Egbert’s Stone is mentioned in both the ASC and the Life. ASC ‘A’ 878 7 him to comman þær ongen Sumorsæte alle 7 Wilsætan 7 Hamtunscir se del se hiere behinon se was 7 his gefægene wærun …and there came to meet him all the people of Somerset and of Wiltshire and of that part of Hampshire which was on this side of the sea, and they rejoiced to see him. VÆ c.55 Ibique obviaverunt illi omnes accolae Summurtunensis pagae et Wiltunensis, omnes accolae Hamtunensis pagae, qui non ultra mare pro metu paganorum navigaverant; visoque rege, sicut dignum erat, quasi redivivum post tantas tribulationes recipientes, immenso repleti sunt gaudio. And there all the inhabitants of Somerset and Wiltshire and all the inhabitants of Hampshire – those who had not sailed overseas for fear of the Vikings – joined up with him. When they saw the king, receiving him (not surprisingly) as if one restored to life after suffering such great tribulations, they were filled with immense joy. Asser’s account of Alfred’s reception echoes closely that of the king’s father, Ӕthelwulf, whose son Ӕthelbald (Alfred’s eldest brother) attempted to prevent Ӕthelwulf from returning to his rightful throne in 856, as discussed above. Upon Æthelwulf’s return from Rome, and presumably after dealing with the conspiracy to prevent his return, Asser
Final%20PhD%20Submission%20with%20Corrections%20-%20William%20White.docx