Why was King Alfred concerned with literacy and learning? It is clear that literacy and learning played an important role in the life of King Alfred. In his biography of the king, Asser tells us that from an early age Alfred showed an aptitude for book learning which was encouraged by his mother. The reason why Alfred developed this interest from an early age was probably the fact that he was the youngest child of …showed first 75 words of 970 total…

…showed last 75 words of 970 total…young age. When he became king, this personal interest in reading and writing led Alfred to a belief that it was important for the prosperity of his kingdom that his people were educated. Part of this belief was that the Viking raids which had caused so much suffering in his land, had taken place because God was not pleased that the kingdom had decayed to the extent that there were hardly any men of learning.