John Asser

Born in Wales, Asser was a monk of St David’s who later became bishop of Sherborne. In the 880s he was invited to the court of Alfred the Great, where he joined the circle of scholars the king was gathering to strengthen learning and religion in his kingdom.

He is best known for writing Life of King Alfred, a Latin work that combines biography, history, and personal observation. Because Asser knew Alfred directly, his writing is one of the most valuable surviving sources for the king’s reign and for the cultural revival Alfred encouraged.

Although many details of his early life remain uncertain, Asser is remembered as a scholar, churchman, and one of the most important witnesses to ninth-century Britain. He is generally said to have died around 909.