Exploring England's philosopher king, Alfred the Great. Alfred’s practical defensive reforms are admirable, but he sought to strengthen his kingdom on a deeper level. During the period of Viking invasions, Latin literacy had declined. To remedy the lack of scholars in Wessex, Alfred sought learned men from abroad. From Mercia, he secured churchmen of learning. He also dispatched messengers to the Carolingian Empire, attracting the services of learned monks, such as Grimbald of Flanders, and John the German. Asser, whose writings are today our most important source for King Alfred’s life, was a Welsh monk from the Abbey of Saint David’s. Asser came to be a close friend of the King, and became Bishop of Sherborne. Having gathered a circle of intellectuals at his court, Alfred implemented his literary revival. Grimbald of Flanders, John the German, Asser the Welshman, and the Mercians all came from differing regions, and brought a variety of intellectual traditions to the table. They