Alfred's Law Code

Question 1

What were some of Alfred’s influences for his law code (doombook)? And how did he decide on which to implement himself?

Answer 1

• Previous Saxon rulers:
  Ine of Wessex
  Offa of Merica
  Aethelberht of Kent
  Alfred gathered together all of their various laws and selected those which he agreed with, and “omitting” the others - he chose these 3 as they were the 3 kingdoms he now ruled

Question 2

Why is it significant that Alfred made a law code?

Answer 2

• Not every king produced their own law code, and so writing down his laws was a significant statement, and in this sense served as propaganda
  (Keynes) - “first attempt at codification of law for the best part of a century”
• Also useful to demonstrate his priorities and ideology as king - public affirmation as him as a lawmaker

Question 3

In what way did Alfred’s law code show his emphasis on loyalty/obedience?

Answer 3

Treachary/oath-breaking was the only crime punishable by death

Question 4

What was Oath-helping?

Answer 4

Oath-helping was one of the ways that guilt could be determined:
Individuals would swear to the good character of the defendant. Oaths held the prospect of divine retribution for those who took them in vain - they were seen as one of the very few ways to ensure people were telling the truth

Question 5

What were the different trials by ordeal?

Answer 5

• Trial by Fire - the accused would carry a red-hot iron a prescribed distance. Their burnt and bleeding hand would be bandaged and left for three days, when unwrapped, if the wound was healing they were innocent - there was a variant of this with retrieving a stone from a cauldron of boiling water
• Trial by water - the accused was lowered into a large water butt. If they sank to a specific depth, they were innocent; if they did not they were guilty (either way they were removed before drowning)
• Trial by food - reserved for clergy - the accused was given dry food to eat - a piece of consecrated bread and some goats cheese. If they could swallow it without water or choking, they were innocent

Question 6

In what way did Alfred’s law code show his emphasis on fairness/equity?

Answer 6

• The process of settling feuds, where you would have to wait 7 days before taking your revenge - intention to avoid unnecessary spilling of blood
• The list of compensation being appropriately catered to the body part effected (ie. 30 shillings for a loss of thumb and 9 shillings for a loss of little finger)
• Alfred’s statement in his preface to “Doom evenly”
• Alfred’s education programme - insistence on officials learning to read, so that they could apply the law correctly - his code was designed as a handbook for how to enact justice when he was not their to deliver judgement himself

Question 7

What is the significance of Alfred’s preface to his law code acknowledging Mosaic law

Answer 7

• Through tracing its roots back to the laws of Moses (Ten Commandments) it emphasises the importance of Christian teachings in law-making and that Christian law was at the basis of any strong kingdom
• The Ten commandments were made to protect God’s chosen people - Alfred wanted to highlight that his law code was Christian law-making for God’s NEW chosen people (unifying the English through faith)