AN EVALUATION OF THE GREAT ALFRED ERA

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 146 - 161, 29.05.2022

Mert Kozan

Abstract

Alfred the Great is King of Wessex, reigning from 871 to 899. Alfred successfully defended his country against the the invasion and pilage attempt of Vikings and became the most powerful monarch in England until his death. Alfred is one of two British monarchs to hold the title of "Great". The other ruler with this title is Knud the Great, who Scandinavian origin. He was the first king to describe himself not only as the "King of the West Saxons" but als as the "King of the Anglo-Saxons" as a completly. Alfred the Great draws attention as one of the rare medieval figures whose popularity still continues today with his actions. Alfred's influence continued through the ages and was directly associated with British imperialism by some authors. Cultural and administrative developments during the reign of Alfred the Great attracted the attention of many authors.
Alfred was famous as a merciful, gracious king who loved to learn, reorganized the legal system and military structure of his country with his reforms, and improved the quality of life of the people. Alfred made incentives for the dissemination of education in his country. However, he preferred English, not Latin, as the language of education in the country. The main purpose of our article is to provide a brief perspective on Alfred's life.

Keywords

Alfred the Great, Britain, Vikings

BÜYÜK ALFRED DÖNEMİ ÜZERİNE BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Abstract

Büyük Alfred, 871- 899 yılları arasında hüküm süren Wessex Kralıdır. Alfred, Vikinglerin istila ve yağmalama girişimlerine karşı ülkesini başarılı bir şekilde savundu ve ölene kadar İngiltere'deki en güçlü hükümdar oldu. Alfred, "Büyük" unvanına sahip olan iki İngiliz hükümdardan biridir. Bu unvana sahip olan diğer hükümdar ise İskandinavya kökenli olan Büyük Knud'dur. Kendisini sadece ''Batı Saksonlarının'' kralı olarak değil bütün olarak ''Anglo-Saksonların Kralı'' olarak tanımlayan ilk kraldı. Büyük Alfred günümüzde de icraatlarıyla popülaritesi halen devam eden ender ortaçağ figürlerinden birisi olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Alfred’in etkisi çağlar boyunca devam etmiş hatta bazı müellifler tarafından İngiliz emperyalizmi ile doğrudan ilişkilendirilmiştir. Büyük Alfred döneminde yaşanan kültürel ve idari gelişmeler pek çok müellifinde ilgisini çekmiştir.
Alfred, merhametli, öğrenmeyi seven, zarif, yaptığı reformlarla ülkesinin hukuk sistemini ile askeri yapısını yeniden düzenleyen ve halkın yaşam kalitesini yükselten bir kral olarak ünlenmiştir. Alfred ülkesinde eğitimin yaygınlaştırılması için teşviklerde bulunmuştur. Lakin ülkede eğitim dili olarak Latince'yi değil İngilizceyi tercih etmiştir.
Makalemizdeki temel amaç Alfred’in hayatına kısa bir bakış açısı sunmaktır.

Keywords

Büyük Alfred, Britanya, Vikingler

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