Aethelstan
Overview
King Aethelstan, also spelled Athelstan, was the grandson of Alfred the Great and is considered one of the most significant rulers of Anglo-Saxon England. He spent much of his reign consolidating his power, establishing himself as the dominant force in Anglo-Saxon England and unifying the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. He was successful in his military campaigns and was able to defeat the Vikings at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937.
Aethelstan was also an adept diplomat, forging alliances with neighboring kingdoms and securing his place as a respected leader in Europe. He was a devout Christian and worked to promote Christianity throughout his kingdom by founding many churches and monasteries. However, some of his policies were seen as harsh and unjust, such as the law punishing anyone who failed to report a thief. Overall, Aethelstan’s legacy as a powerful and complex ruler is still debated by historians today.
Early Life
Aethelstan was born in 895, the grandson of Alfred the Great. His father was King Edward the Elder, and his mother was a noblewoman named Ecgwynn. Aethelstan’s early life was shaped by the ongoing Viking invasions of England, which had begun in the late 8th century.
As a young boy, Aethelstan would have witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by the Vikings on the people and lands of England. He likely spent much of his childhood in hiding, as his family and other nobles sought to protect themselves from Viking attacks. Aethelstan’s father, King Edward, was a skilled warrior and leader, and he spent much of his reign fighting against the Vikings and attempting to unite the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under his rule.
Frontispiece of Bede’s Life of St Cuthbert, showing Æthelstan presenting a copy of the book to the saint himself. MS 183, f.1v at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
Aethelstan was educated at the royal court, where he would have received a rigorous education in literature, history, and the arts. He was also trained in military tactics and strategy, as his father recognized the importance of preparing his son for a future as a warrior king.
In 918, Aethelstan’s father died, and he was succeeded as king by his half-brother, Aethelweard. Aethelstan was sent to live with his aunt in Mercia, where he continued his education and honed his military skills. He also gained valuable experience in governance, as he was appointed by his aunt to serve as the governor of the province of Kent.
Aethelstan was educated at the royal court, where he would have received a rigorous education in literature, history, and the arts. He was also trained in military tactics and strategy, as his father recognized the importance of preparing his son for a future as a warrior king.
In 918, Aethelstan’s father died, and he was succeeded as king by his half-brother, Aethelweard. Aethelstan was sent to live with his aunt in Mercia, where he continued his education and honed his military skills. He also gained valuable experience in governance, as he was appointed by his aunt to serve as the governor of the province of Kent.
Reign
After becoming King of Wessex in 924, Aethelstan spent the next 15 years consolidating his power and expanding his influence throughout England. His reign was marked by a series of military campaigns, diplomatic alliances, and religious reforms that helped shape the course of English history.
One of Aethelstan’s first acts as king was to secure his position by suppressing a rebellion led by his cousin, Aelfwold. This early victory helped establish Aethelstan’s authority and set the tone for his subsequent reign. He went on to undertake a series of successful military campaigns, including expeditions against the Vikings in Northumbria and Scotland.
One of Aethelstan’s most significant achievements was the victory he won at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. This battle, fought against a coalition of Vikings, Scots, and Irish, was a decisive victory for the Anglo-Saxons and established Aethelstan as the dominant force in England. The battle was also significant in that it helped create a sense of English national identity, as the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms came together to fight a common enemy.
Battle of Brunanburh
The Battle of Brunanburh was fought in 937 CE between the forces of King Athelstan of England and a coalition of Norse, Scots, and Welsh armies. The battle was one of the largest and most significant of the Anglo-Saxon period, with both sides fielding large armies. The battle was fought near the town of Brunanburh, which is believed to be located in modern-day Northumberland. The English army emerged victorious, and the battle marked a turning point in Anglo-Saxon history. It helped to establish the power of the English kingdom and laid the foundation for the unification of England under one king. The battle is commemorated in a famous Old English poem, “The Battle of Brunanburh,” which celebrates the English victory and the bravery of the soldiers who fought in the battle.
Image Credit: Public Domain
Religion & Politics
Aethelstan was a skilled diplomat, and he worked to establish alliances with neighboring kingdoms and European powers. He maintained friendly relations with the rulers of Wales and Scotland, and he was able to secure an alliance with the French king, Charles the Simple. Aethelstan also hosted a number of important church councils, which helped to promote religious reform and unity within his kingdom.
One of Aethelstan’s most important religious reforms was his decision to establish a uniform system of weights and measures throughout England. This helped to promote commerce and trade and laid the groundwork for the development of a more sophisticated economy in the centuries to come. Aethelstan was also a patron of the arts and literature, and he commissioned a number of important works, including a translation of the Bible into English.
Despite his many successes, Aethelstan’s reign was not without controversy. Some of his policies, such as his harsh punishments for minor crimes, were seen as excessive and unjust. He also faced ongoing resistance from some of the nobles and regional rulers who resented his attempts to centralize power in his own hands.
Image Credit: Public Domain
First King of England
Aethelstan is considered the first king of England because he was the first ruler to successfully unite all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under his control. Prior to his reign, England was divided into a number of smaller kingdoms, including Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and others, each with its own ruling dynasty and political system. Aethelstan’s military conquests and political savvy allowed him to bring these kingdoms under his control, creating a centralized state that laid the foundation for the England we know today.
A key moment in Aethelstan’s reign came in 927, when he secured the submission of the last remaining independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Northumbria. With this victory, Aethelstan became the first ruler to unite all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under his control. He went on to establish a system of government that centralized power and promoted cultural and economic exchange between the various regions of his kingdom. This included issuing a series of legal codes, including the famous Laws of Aethelstan, which codified English law and established a framework for governance that lasted for centuries.
Aethelstan’s efforts to unite England were not limited to military conquests and political reforms. He also fostered ties with other European powers, including the Holy Roman Empire and the papacy, which helped to legitimize his reign and establish England as a player on the international stage. By achieving political, cultural, and economic unity among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Aethelstan laid the groundwork for the emergence of a unified English nation, and his reign marks a pivotal moment in English history. For these reasons, Aethelstan is widely recognized as the first king of England.
The coins that depict Aethelstan as the first king of England are a testament to his achievements as a unifier and builder of a strong, centralized state. These coins, minted during Aethelstan’s reign, feature his image and the inscription “Rex totius Britanniae” (King of all Britain), a title that Aethelstan was given in recognition of his successful efforts to unite the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The coins serve as a tangible reminder of Aethelstan’s legacy as the first ruler to achieve political, cultural, and economic unity among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and they continue to be a valuable artifact of English history.
Penny of Aethelstan, showing him as ‘king of all Britain’, (Rex to[tius] Br[itanniae]), mint Winchester, moneyer Otic.
Related Topics
Further Research & References
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, trans. G.N. Garmonsway (London: J.M. Dent, 1953).
Asser, The Life of King Alfred, trans. Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge (London: Penguin, 1983).
Gerbert of Aurillac, The Letters of Gerbert, trans. Harriet Pratt Lattin (New York: Columbia University Press, 1961).
Morris, Marc. The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England 400-1066. New York, NY. Pegasus Books, Ltd., 2021.
The Laws of Aethelstan, trans. F.L. Attenborough (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1922).
The Battle of Brunanburh, trans. Michael Swanton, in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, ed. Michael Swanton (London: Phoenix, 2000), 181-82.
William of Malmesbury, The Deeds of the English Kings, trans. R.A.B. Mynors, R.M. Thomson, and M. Winterbottom (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998).
Photos:
Statue of King Alfred the Great:
Odejea, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. [cropped]
Penny of Athelstan:
Arichis (talk) (Uploads), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons