Athelstan

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Britain in Athelstan's time

Athelstan or Æthelstan, (893/4–27 October 939), called the Glorious, was the first King of England. He reigned from 924 to 939. He was the son of King Edward the Elder. Athelstan's reign is sometimes overlooked but it was of great importance to political developments in the 10th century.

Athelstan was the son of Edward the Elder, and grandson of Alfred the Great. His father succeeded, after some difficulty, to the Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons formed by Alfred. His father had also been the King of Mercia. When Edward died Athelstan quickly became King of Mercia but he was not immediately accepted as King of England. His brother, Ælfweard, had more support in England but died soon after Edward. This made it easier for Athelstan to become king.

For Athelstan it was very important to have many allies. A year after his crowning he married one of his sisters to the Viking King of Northumbria, Sithric. However, Sithric died only a year later, and Athelstan seized Northumbria. This move made him king of more land than any other before him, roughly the same as modern England. Historical records indicate that the other rulers in Great Britain accepted him as king at Bamburgh around this time.

Athelstan died at Gloucester in 939 and was succeeded by his half-brother, Edmund I.

Athelstan Media

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  Statue in Tamworth, Staffordshire of Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, with her young nephew Æthelstan

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  Silver penny of King Æthelstan

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  A sixteenth-century painting in Beverley Minster in the East Riding of Yorkshire of Æthelstan with Saint John of Beverley

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  Coin of Æthelstan Rex, small cross pattée type, London mint, moneyer Biorneard

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  Alea evangelii, a board game played at Æthelstan's court

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  Charter S416 of Æthelstan for Wulfgar in 931, written by "Æthelstan A"

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  Æthelstan in a fifteenth-century stained glass window in All Souls College Chapel, Oxford