RESOURCES AND EXTRACTION
David A. Pratt
The rise of Wessex in the first half ninth century was accompanied by grassroots economic change. Political expansion had been achievement Alfred's grandfather, Ecgberht (802–39), and father, AEthelwulf (839–58), tightening hold dynastic kingship; this order itself contributed to a more intensive exploitation expanding resources, commercial as well agrarian. Both areas were sources royal income: previous century, land warfare increasingly supplemented new forms regularized payment, through taxation markets exchange. In fiscal monetary regulation, these structures presuppose aspects central control; Balzaretti's reluctance attribute any form management early medieval rulers seems inordinately destructive. For Wessex, his case can be countered many effects expansion, tapping wealth south-eastern trade; extended systems military assessment, exercised broadly urban defence. WEST SAXON RESOURCES AND ROYAL POWER Though sometimes overstated, strong remains for promotion from earliest phases Anglo-Saxon development. Merchants received legal protection: control trade enabled substantial extraction, both bullion kind, payment tolls issuing coinage. latter involved potentially lucrative partnership between kings moneyers, who mercantile third parties rather than officials.
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