The Venerable Bede Alfred the Great

1. The Venerable BedeAlfred the Great Janar Aronija

2. The Venerable Bede • “Father of English History” • Spent his whole life in the monastery • Became a priest at the age of 30 • His writings include natural history, poetry, Biblical translation, Latin hymns.

3. Ecclesiastical History of the English People • Only book written on Anglo-Saxon history • Records events in Britain from the raids by Julius Caesar to the arrival of the first missionary from Rome • “The finest historical work of the early Middle Ages”

4. The Venerable Bede • Bede died in his cell at the monastery in 735 • His tomb lies in the Norman Cathedral of Durham • In 1899, Bede was made a Doctor of the Church by Leo XIII

5. Alfred the Great • The only English king to be given epithet “the Great” • He is noted for his defence against the Vikings • Encouraged education, improved kingdom’s legal system and military structure

6. Alfred the Great • He was born in 849 in Wantage, Oxfordshire • Public life began with the reign of his third brother, king Æthelred • Fought beside his brother to keep the invading Danes out • After the death of king Æthelred, Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex

7. Alfred the Great • Translated Ecclesiastical History of the English People • Restored London • He issued a law code • Died in 899 • Buried in New Minster

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