In the 1990s, the University of Alfred in New York decided that it would commission a statue of King Alfred the Great. This was opposed by one Dr Linda Mitchell, a professor of medieval studies, who protested that “if the university is claiming a dedication to diversity, it would be foolish to choose a symbol so exclusive and effective in emphasising the dead white male power structure in history”. In Winchester in Britain, Alfred’s ancient capital, it was reported that King A…
