Bede mastered Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He was famous for his writings on the interpretation of Scripture, in the natural world and on how to calculate the Easter day. The copy of Bede’s text was produced within a few decades of his death. Numerous copies of his work were held by The British Library, including a late eighth- or early ninth-century edition from Northumbria and a mid-ninth-century version made in Kent. With the support from The Polonsky Foundation, the manuscript can be successfully digitised.    

His scholarship covered the commentaries on the Bible, observations of nature, music, poetries and many other ranges. The most famous work, 'The Ecclesiastical History of the English People' was known as a key source in understanding the early British history and the arrival of Christianity. It was the first work that used the AD dating system.  He gave his life educating people and is known as the Father of English History.

Similarly, King Alfred, the fifth son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, had a great influence in educational and literature of English. It has been said that he truly encouraged the education. Apart from educating people, he also was noted in the history for his defence against the Vikings, improving the kingdom’s legal system and the military structure. He was the best known of all Anglo-Saxon rulers. He generally called himself ‘The King of the Angles and the Saxons’. He was the only king to be given epithet ‘the Great’ and was someone who has had greatness thrust upon him. 

In 871, where nine major battles between West Saxons and the Vikings occurred, Alfred took over as the king of Wessex. In 878, he then was forced to retreat to the marshes of Athelney (Somerset). But, he managed to win with a decisive victory over the Vikings. The Vikings made a further serious attack in 890s. However, Alfred already improved the military and has been able to resist their attack with the help of West Mercian and Welsh allies.

He managed to build new towns and successfully restored London and make it habitable once more. He translated books into English (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) and started schools. There couldn’t be any doubt that Alfred’s reign was significant, both for the direction of the country’s development and for the fortunes of his descendants. King Alfred was accepted as the founder of the nation and its essential institutions. He was the first person to be called King of all the English.