The paratext in Alfredian Translations and the Autonomy of the Vernacular in Anglo-Saxon England

As is well known, early Old English prose seems to originate from the need to understand and interpret texts in Latin. A similar didactic-pedagogical requirement is what inspired the translation program proposed by Alfred the Great (871–899), King of Wessex. After solving - even though temporarily - the threat of the Viking attacks, Alfred decided to promote a cultural rebirth of his kingdom, mainly investing in the education of the future ruling class, both secular and ecclesiastical. These works are often accompanied by prefaces and epilogues. This paper aims to show how these paratexts, while providing meagre translational directions, nevertheless carry out two functions: on one hand, they legitimate translations that often turn out to be re-worked versions; on the other, they reinforce the image of a king who, overloaded with many tasks and obligations, was still worried about the spiritual well-being of his subjects.