primary audience for post-exile charters and law codes. In these royal documents and decrees, the recognition of the importance, and his understanding of their king’s nobility’s desire to adhere to tradition, are evident in the themes of kingship and legitimacy expressed in their content and literary construction. The post-exile documents of reign show repeated attempts to reassert the authority as legislator and Ӕthelred’s king’s executor of justice, ordained by God to serve as his deputy on earth. The attempts made to reconfirm position show an understanding of the fragile nature of late Ӕthelred’s loyalties and the precarious position of a king who, despite his Christian legitimacy, had been forced from his kingdom, returning only under those conditions established by the leading nobility of England. I have shown how Bede and Asser refer to the divine forces effecting the exiles and restorations of Edwin and Alfred. The hardships of king and country during reign also have divine explanations, according to contemporary homilists like Æthelred’s Wulfstan and Ælfric: England was paying for its sins. Among those sins was the disloyalty and betrayal of their lawful king. Indeed, the Chronicler reveals some sympathy for suffering and notes his efforts to retain control. However, the king was as Æthelred’s culpable as his rebellious nobles: the Chronicler portrays Æthelred, throughout his reign, as ineffective and poorly advised. The lack of control is communicated by the king’s of the conditions for his return, further suggesting that Æthelred was witan’s determination considered an unjust king by his leading men. The context presented by the Chronicler helps to clarify the desperation shown by the heightened promotion of legitimacy expressed by post-exile charters and law codes. Ultimately, the king failed to Æthelred’s command or defend his people. The exile experiences of Edwin and Alfred were used to promote those kings as examples of Christian kingship and supporters of unity. In a very different way, exile also presents the importance of strong leadership and Æthelred’s national unity.
primary audience for post-exile charters and law codes. In these royal documents and decrees, the king’s recognition of the nobility’s importance, and his understanding of their desire to adhere to tradition, are evident in the themes of kingship and legitimacy expressed in their content and literary construction. The post-exile documents of Ӕthelred’s reign show repeated attempts to reassert the king’s authority as legislator and executor of justice, ordained by God to serve as his deputy on earth. The attempts made to reconfirm Ӕthelred’s position show an understanding of the fragile nature of late loyalties and the precarious position of a king who, despite his Christian legitimacy, had been forced from his kingdom, returning only under those conditions established by the leading nobility of England. I have shown how Bede and Asser refer to the divine forces effecting the exiles and restorations of Edwin and Alfred. The hardships of king and country during Æthelred’s reign also have divine explanations, according to contemporary homilists like Wulfstan and Ælfric: England was paying for its sins. Among those sins was the disloyalty and betrayal of their lawful king. Indeed, the Chronicler reveals some sympathy for Æthelred’s suffering and notes his efforts to retain control. However, the king was as culpable as his rebellious nobles: the Chronicler portrays Æthelred, throughout his reign, as ineffective and poorly advised. The king’s lack of control is communicated by the witan’s determination of the conditions for his return, further suggesting that Æthelred was considered an unjust king by his leading men. The context presented by the Chronicler helps to clarify the desperation shown by the heightened promotion of legitimacy expressed by Æthelred’s post-exile charters and law codes. Ultimately, the king failed to command or defend his people. The exile experiences of Edwin and Alfred were used to promote those kings as examples of Christian kingship and supporters of unity. In a very different way, Æthelred’s exile also presents the importance of strong leadership and national unity.
Final%20PhD%20Submission%20with%20Corrections%20-%20William%20White.docx