Michael Wood emphasizes that Alfred’s greatness lay not only in his military victories but in his ability to build a lasting peace. After 878, Alfred restructured the defense of his kingdom, constructing a series of fortified towns known as burhs and reorganizing the fyrd, or local militia. This network enabled Wessex to withstand future Viking attacks and gradually reclaim lost territory.

But Alfred was more than just a warlord. Wood is particularly fascinated by Alfred’s role as a scholar-king, inspired by Christian ideals and a deep sense of cultural mission. He laments the decay of learning in England and famously initiated a revival of education and literacy. Under his rule, monasteries were reformed, schools were founded, and classical Latin works were translated into Old English.

Wood often quotes Alfred’s preface to his translation of Pope Gregory’s Pastoral Care, in which the king expresses sorrow that “so few men can understand Latin” and vows to restore learning. This intellectual renaissance, Wood argues, was as significant as Alfred’s military triumphs—it preserved the cultural identity of the Anglo-Saxon people.

Lawgiver and Visionary

Another of Alfred’s lasting legacies, according to Wood, was his legal reform. Drawing upon earlier Anglo-Saxon laws, Christian principles, and his own sense of justice, Alfred issued a law code that sought to unify and moralize the realm. It was not just about punishment but about creating a just and ordered society.

Wood sees this as part of Alfred’s broader vision: he was attempting to build not just a stronger kingdom but a godly society, rooted in righteousness and wisdom. This moral dimension to his kingship sets Alfred apart from many of his contemporaries and, in Wood’s view, places him in the tradition of biblical rulers like King David or Solomon.

The Legacy of Alfred

In Michael Wood’s portrayal, Alfred is a unifier—both culturally and politically. He began the process of integrating the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms into a single English identity. His dream was not fully realized in his lifetime, but his grandson Æthelstan would later become the first true King of all England.

Wood does not shy away from the legendary aspects of Alfred’s image, such as the story of him burning the cakes while in hiding. Yet he always grounds the narrative in the historical record, using sources like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Asser’s Life of King Alfred, and archaeological evidence.

In his television series In Search of the Dark Ages and other works, Wood presents Alfred not as a remote figure of myth but as a deeply human leader: devout, pragmatic, compassionate, and burdened with responsibility. For Wood, Alfred is not merely “the Great” because of battles won but because of a legacy that shaped English identity for centuries to come.

Conclusion

Through Michael Wood’s lens, Alfred the Great emerges as a multifaceted ruler whose achievements transcended his age. A defender of his people, a lawgiver, a teacher, and a nation-builder, Alfred laid the groundwork for a united England in an age of darkness and upheaval. His vision of a moral and educated Christian kingdom continues to inspire, and Wood’s masterful storytelling ensures that Alfred's legacy remains vivid for modern audiences. shutdown123