Noah Nelson
Mrs. Fuller
10th Honors Brit. Lit.
August 8, 2022
Alfred the Great
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell is a novel that takes place in medieval England
when the Anglo-Saxons ruled the land. The book follows the main character Uhtred and his
journey as he fights a war to save England as well as himself. Along his journey, he meets the
king of Wessex, Alfred. Alfred is known as the only English king with the title “Great”. Alfred
has this title because he defeated the Vikings and rebuilt Wessex into a better kingdom. Leading
his kingdom shows that Alfred accepts his new role as king, devotes himself to religion, and can
outwit a fox with his cleverness.
Alfred never wanted to lead his country, but because of his brother’s death, he accepts his
role as king. Alfred already acts like a king and thinks like one because, “the bastard thinks,
earsling, which is more than you or I ever do. He knows what has to be done, and don’t
underestimate him. He can be ruthless” (Cornwell 247). Alfred knows how to make the tough
decisions that a leader might have to make. Also, he knows how to act ruthless if and when
needed like a true king. Alfred, as a king, knows the impact that war has on the imposing army
so, “…Alfred had already ordered that every barn, granary, and storehouse within raiding
distance of the Poole be emptied” (Cornwell 274). Alfred thinks like a true king, and he prepares
for the worst. He knows what to do because he strategies like an expert. Alfred learns how to
govern and lead like a king because, “Beocca told me that Alfred spent the winter reading the
ancient law codes from Kent, Mercia, and Wessex, and doubtless that he was readying himself to
compile his own laws, which he eventually did” (Cornwell 281). Alfred throws himself into
becoming a proper king soon as possible so he creates laws that others will follow. He wants to
make sure that no one else sees him as a weak or different king. He accepts the role as leader of
his country for the better of his people even though he did not want to do it.
Secondly, no matter where Alfred goes, he brings his religion with him. Time and time
again Alfred will show his faithfulness to Christianity. Alfred puts his religion above all else no
matter what: “Alfred insisted that they could not start church until he had attended church”
(Cornwell 176). Alfred expresses his devotion to his religion because he puts off even
negotiations with the Danes in favor of church. Even though Alfred holds his country’s safety
close to his heart, his religion and faith in God are even closer. Alfred devotes himself so much
that it even causes him physical pain since, “It seemed Alfred had humped a servant girl and,
immediately afterward, had been overcome with physical pain and what he called spiritual
torment” (Cornwell 79). His faith in his religion runs so deep that wavering from it causes him
physical pain and torture. Even though the pain he experiences is from his terrible sickness and
guilt, the fact that he thinks that God doing this to him proves how far his faith goes. Alfred’s
faith in his religion resides close to his heart and he would not act the same without it.
Lastly, King Alfred can outwit anyone thanks to his supreme intellect and cleverness that
he possesses. He always thinks many steps ahead of his adversaries since, “whatever I discover
about my enemies is written down” (Cornwell 218). Alfred writing down all that he knows about
his enemies is a very clever move. This lets Alfred learn about his enemies’ strengths and
weaknesses which can help him in a battle. Even Uhtred must acknowledge Alfred’s cleverness
when he says, “I was to discover in time that he was a clever man, very clever, and thought twice
as fast as most others…” (Cornwell 92). Alfred always thinks ahead of others and even Uhtred
realized that. Alfred proves that he is clever, and this quote foreshadows that fact. Alfred plans
for the future where the Danes are defeated because Uhtred says, “Instead I accepted his gifts
and went south to the coast, and thus he has tucked away a pawn that might one day be useful”
(Cornwell 221). Alfred looks at life like a game of chess and that he must plan for every future
possible scenario. He sends Uhtred away and binds him with gifts so that if Alfred needs Uhtred,
he can be of use again later in the war. Alfred throughout the book demonstrates time and time
again his cleverness and intellectual prowess that have gotten him out of some tight spots.
Alfred the Great accepted his role as king of Wessex not by choice but by fate. Alfred
uses his cleverness to outwit anyone, faithfulness in his religion to his very inner core, and
reluctantly accepts the role of leading his kingdom. Alfred’s cleverness and intelligence are
supreme, but he shouldn’t be so manipulative. He wholeheartedly believes in his faith, but he lets
it control every aspect of his life. Alfred accepts the role of king even though he still would
rather work as a scholar. Understanding Alfred’s main character traits can help one learn and
understand him more in depth. Finally, for Alfred destiny is crazy, unpredictable, and strange,
but most of all destiny is everything.