Alfred Was The Only Leader With A Biography

One of the interesting facts about Alfred the Great is that he was the only leader to have a biography. Before Alfred and after him, there were no Anglo-Saxon leaders with biographies. A biography of him was written by his advisor, but Alfred did not approve of it. It's probable that he was unaware of its existence. Regardless of the circumstances, he became the first historical figure in Anglo-Saxon England to have a biography. It's significant because we can see in-depth accounts of his life.

The Latin biography that was written by the Welsh scholar monk Asser, one of Alfred's court advisors, and later one of Wessex's bishops, was most significant for his reputation going forward. The only Anglo-Saxon king biography that has survived is The Life of Alfred, which was written in 893 while the king was still alive. It contains details about the man and his reign that we do not have for other pre-Norman kings. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is translated, with some extra material that may have originated from the king's own or other court veterans' memories, to form the primary framework of the story.