Alfred the great book of doom

Anglo saxon dooms internet history sourcebooks project. The doom book, domboc, code of alfred or legal code of. Or was the doom book represent a new development in establishing the rule of law. A life of king alfred of england originally composed in latin, possibly sometime around 888. Alfred the great mcgill university school of computer. Life of alfred the great audio book by asser, bishop of sherborne, translated by j. Lawcode of king alfred the great cambridge repository. King alfreds code, or alfreds dooms as it was called, begins with an almost literal transcript of the decalogue.

Legend also has it that the young alfred spent time in ireland seeking healing. He has translated the latin writings of aldhelm and is the author of numerous books on latin literature. The following excerpts are from alfred the great who proclaims the law. Life of alfred the great by asser, bishop of sherborne. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the danish vikings, becoming the only english king to be awarded the epithet the great. The whole works of king alfred the great, with preliminary essays, illustrative of the history, arts, and manners, of the ninth century. Full text of assers life of king alfred internet archive. If any one harbour him after that, let him make bot as the doombook may say, and as he ought who. It came to be known as sea domboc the law or judgement book, and was cited using that appellation in the lawcodes of alfreds tenthcentury successors. It came to be known as sea domboc the law or judgement book, and was cited using that appellation in the lawcodes of alfred s tenthcentury successors. Alfred the great codified english law in the doom bookin. Alfred the greats most enduring work was his legal code, reconciling the long established laws of the christian kingdoms of kent, mercia and wessex. Saxonborn warrior raised by vikings during the reign of alfred the great.

There the great men decreed, with the suffrages of all, these dooms, and added them to the lawful. The only variation is that the second commandment is omitted from its rightful place. The real history behind the last kingdom historyextra. I voted for alfred, if only to protest the slander all right, misrepresentation is a better verb there of the book of doom. Alfred the greats most enduring work was his legal. King alfreds book of dooms judgments american law was established upon english common law. Bishop asser tells the story of how, as a child, alfred won a book of saxon poems, offered as a prize by his mother to the first of her children able to memorize it. Its the domesday book, better translated as the book. Alfreds law code, or doom book, was written sometime between the years 880899 setting out a series of laws and their punishments if broken.

He seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear. What emerges from reading alfreds doom are statutes remarkable for their. These formed alfred s deemings or doom book book of laws. Domebook, doombook or dombec a book in which alfred the great, of england, after uniting the saxon heptarchy, collected the various customs dispersed through the kingdom, and digested them into one uniform code. Alfreds law code, or doom book, was written sometime between the years.

Alfred the great s most enduring work was his legal code, reconciling the long established laws of the christian kingdoms of kent, mercia and wessex. The lawcode of king alfred the great 871 99 is one of the largest and most ambitious legislative enactments to survive from anglosaxon england. Alfred the great codified english law in the doom book in the early 890s, which stated that the same law applied to all persons rich and poor. Alfred was troubled by health problems throughout his life.