Alfred’s Jewels: 1,100-year-old treasure of England’s first king, who declared, “Alfred ordered me to make it.”

In 1693, a farmer plowing his fields in North Petherton, south-west England, discovered an interesting piece of medieval jewelry made of gold, enamel, and crystal. However, what distinguishes this piece from others is the notable inscription around the edge. The jewelry has the inscription “AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN,” an Old English sentence meaning “Alfred ordered me to make it.”

The Alfred Jewel, owned by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford, is estimated to have been made between 871 and 899, during the reign of Alfred the Great. Alfred initially ruled as king of the West Saxons (Wessex), one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms at the time. In 886 he extended his power over all of England and is therefore considered the first King of England.

The gem measures 2.4 x 1.2 inches (6.2 x 3.1 centimeters). Its design consists of dozens of small cells filled with colorful enamel paste and accented with thin strips of gold. It depicts a person from the middle of the thigh up. A capitalized Old English inscription on the edge of the jewel’s bezel connects the jewel to Alfred the Great.

you may like

King Alfred had a reputation as a shrewd military leader ever since he helped fight Viking invasions in the 9th century. He was also a highly educated man who possessed a large number of religious texts translated from Latin into Old English. According to the Ashmolean Museum, Alfred distributed these religious manuscripts to bishops in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, along with aestheles, a kind of bookmark or guide to keep you in place while reading. Alfred Jewell is probably the end of Aester.

Experts noticed that at the base of the gemstone there was a cylindrical socket in what looked like the mouth of a dragon or serpent. This is probably where the pointer itself was once connected.

Alfred Jewell was discovered near the Abbey of Athelny, which was originally a small fortress. Alfred reportedly hid from the Danish Vikings at Athelney for several months before launching a successful counterattack in 878, which helped him expand his influence into southern England. Alfred then returned to found a monastery at Athelny and appoint its first abbot.

Because of his connection to England’s first king, the Ashmolean Museum calls Alfred Jewell “one of the most important royal relics”.

For more amazing archaeological discoveries, check out our Astonishing Artifacts archive.