Athelstan Biography

Succeeds as King of the South Saxons, a client King of Ine of Wessex. Rules in East Sussex

Ine invades East Sussex to capture Ealdbert. Athelstan refuses to co-operate with Ine & a 3 yr war ensues

Succeeds as King of East Anglia

East Anglia comes under the influence of Wessex

Succeeds as King of Kent

Defeats the Danish fleet off Sandwich

Athelstan was born around 894, the eldest son of Edward the Elder and Ecgwynn.

Birth of Athelstan, son of Edward the Elder & grandson of Alfred the Great

Later tradition places the young Athelstan at the Mercian court of Aethelflaed and Aethelred.

Athelstan developed close connections with Mercian nobles and churchmen before becoming king.

Succeeds as King of Wessext

Mercian leaders recognised Athelstan as king soon after Edward the Elder died.

West Saxon support initially favoured Aelfweard, delaying Athelstan’s acceptance across the entire kingdom.

Edward the Elder died, opening a disputed succession between Athelstan and his half-brother Aelfweard.

Aelfweard died shortly after Edward, removing Athelstan’s principal rival for the West Saxon throne.

Crowned at Kingston-on-Thames by Archbishop Wulfstan

A charter records Athelstan granting seven hides at Whittington to his minister Eadric.

Early diplomas styled Athelstan king of the Anglo-Saxons before his conquest of Northumbria.

Athalstan marries one of his sisters to Sihtric C ech, the Viking King of Northumbria at Tamworth, who acknowledges Athelstan as over-king, adopting Christianity

Athelstan secured recognition in Wessex after overcoming resistance to his succession.

Athelstan was crowned at Kingston upon Thames in a ceremony led by Archbishop Athelm.

Athelstan ordered borough defences to be repaired shortly after Rogationtide.

Athelstan confirmed Uhtred’s possession of estates at Hope and Ashford previously purchased from the Danes.

Athelstan and his councillors issued a major law code concerned with theft, trade, public order, and royal administration.

The law required formal buying and selling to take place inside recognised towns before trustworthy witnesses.

Athelstan arranged the marriage of his half-sister Eadhild to Hugh the Great of the Franks.

The Grately legislation ordered royal officials to ensure proper payment of ecclesiastical tithes.

The Grately code imposed severe penalties on moneyers convicted of producing fraudulent coin.

Athelstan ordered one coinage throughout his realm and restricted minting to authorised towns.

Athelstan arranged the marriage of a sister to Sihtric, the Scandinavian ruler of York.

Athelstan moved against Guthfrith, who attempted to claim the Scandinavian kingdom of York.

Captures Northumbria, becomes the 1st King of all of England

Athelstan seized York and ended the independent Scandinavian kingship there.

Recaptures York

Sihtric died, allowing Athelstan to intervene directly in the Northumbrian succession.

Athelstan dedicated the Gospel book known as the Coronation Gospels to Christ Church, Canterbury.

Athelstan issued further legislation at Exeter after receiving reports that earlier peace measures were being ignored.

Guthfrith was driven from Northumbria and sought support beyond Athelstan’s kingdom.

Athelstan granted land at Folkestone to Christ Church, Canterbury, in a charter copied into a Gospel book.

After taking York, Athelstan increasingly used titles presenting him as king of the English.

Reeves who accepted bribes or obstructed justice faced royal fines and removal from office.

Powerful offenders who resisted justice could be expelled with their households to another part of the kingdom.

Royal diplomas began describing Athelstan as ruler or king of all Britain.

Lords and reeves were required to provide surety for the conduct of men under their authority.

In less than a decade, the Kingdom of the English had become by far the greatest power in the British Isles, perhaps stretching as far north as the Firth of Forth. Captures Northumbria, becomes the 1st King of all of England

Constantine of Scotland, Owain of Gwent & Hywell of Strathclyde pay homage

Athelstan met northern and western rulers at Eamont after taking control of York.

Constantine II of Scotland acknowledged Athelstan’s supremacy and agreed not to support Viking enemies.

Ealdred of Bamburgh accepted Athelstan’s authority after the collapse of Scandinavian York.

Hywel Dda of Deheubarth attended the Eamont settlement and acknowledged Athelstan’s overlordship.

Owain of Strathclyde joined the rulers who accepted Athelstan’s authority at Eamont.

A meeting at Eamont Bridge is sealed by an agreement that Constantine, Eogan of Strathclyde, Hywel Dda, and Ealdred would "renounce all idolatry": that is, they would not ally with the Vikings

York is razed to the ground. Guthfrith is captured & the Norse Kingdom of York collapses

A temporary pardon allowed offenders to confess, make compensation, and abandon further criminal activity.

Later tradition credits Athelstan with fixing the Tamar as the boundary of English rule in Cornwall.

Mints 30 coins & decrees that there can only be 1 currency in Britain

Athelstan summoned Welsh rulers to Hereford and asserted English supremacy over their kingdoms.

Mints 30 coins & decrees that there can only be 1 currency in Britain

Later sources state that Athelstan removed Cornish inhabitants from Exeter and strengthened English control.

York is razed to the ground

Welsh rulers agreed to provide substantial annual tribute under Athelstan’s overlordship.

At Easter, Athelstan granted twelve hides at Odstock to his minister Byrhtferth.

Athelstan arranged the marriage of his half-sister Eadgyth to Otto, the future Holy Roman Emperor.

Athelstan collected prestigious religious relics and distributed many to churches and loyal followers.

Norwegian tradition states that Athelstan fostered Hakon, a son of Harald Fairhair, at the English court.

An inscription records Athelstan presenting a Gospel book to Saint Augustine’s Abbey at Canterbury.

A charter records Athelstan granting land at Clifton upon Teme to Worcester minster.

A charter records Athelstan granting Abbot Cynath land at Dumbleton and neighbouring estates.

London bishops, reeves, nobles, and commoners organised collective measures for pursuing thieves and protecting property.

Later Athelstan legislation raised the minimum age for execution after concern about killing very young offenders.

Athelstan gave lands, relics, and other gifts to Malmesbury, where he maintained a close religious connection.

Athelstan granted Bishop Beornheah land at Medmerry with woodland and meadow in Sussex.

Athelstan granted Bishop Eadulf and the community of Crediton three hides at Sandford.

Athelstan granted twelve hides at West Meon to his minister Aethelweard.

Athelstan granted ten hides at Bowers Gifford to Abbot Beorhtsige.

Athelstan granted eleven and a half hides at Fontmell to Shaftesbury Abbey.

Athelstan granted privileges to the bishopric of Crediton in return for a payment of silver.

A charter records Athelstan confirming an extensive group of estates and privileges to Chertsey Minster.

The land army advanced through eastern Scotland as far as the region of Dunnottar.

Athelstan commands "a great army and fleet" into Scotland and lays waste to the country

Athelstan led a major land army and fleet into Scotland after relations with Constantine deteriorated.

Athelstan commands "a great army and fleet" into Scotland and lays waste to the country. Athelstan attacks the east coast of Scotland & reaches Fordun in the Mearns

A diploma described Athelstan as king of the English and ruler of the whole kingdom of Britain.

Athelstan granted twelve hides at Durrington to his minister Aelfwald.

Athelstan granted Amounderness to the church of Saint Peter at York.

Athelstan supported his nephew Louis and provided assistance for his return to the West Frankish throne.

Athelstan supported Alan of Brittany, who returned from exile to recover authority in his homeland.

Rulers in Great Britain seem to have submitted to Athelstan at Bamburgh: "first Hywel, King of the West Welsh, and Constantine II, King of Scots, and Owain, King of the people of Gwent, and Ealdred...of Bamburgh" records the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Defeats Constantine II, the Norse from Dublin & the King of Strathclyde. A notable victory for Athelstan and his brother Edmund over Constantine, Amlaib and Owain

Athelstan defeated the invading coalition in one of the largest battles of Anglo-Saxon England.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle celebrated Athelstan’s victory in an extended Old English poem.

Olaf Guthfrithson, Constantine II, and Owain of Strathclyde invaded Athelstan’s kingdom.

Establishes the "Kingdom of England"

A charter from Athelstan’s later reign granted ten hides at Farnborough to his minister Aelfheah.

Together with Eogan of Strathclyde and Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin, Constantine invades England

Athelstan fought alongside his half-brother Edmund during the victory at Brunanburh.

Athelstan had the King's of the North British (meaning the Welsh) submit to him at Hereford, where he exacted a heavy tribute from them

Rulers in Great Britain seem to have submitted to Athelstan at Bamburgh: "first Hywel, King of the West Welsh, and Constantine II, King of Scots, and Owain, King of the people of Gwent, and Ealdred...of Bamburgh" records the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

Athelstan had the King's of the North British (meaning the Welsh) submit to him at Hereford, where he exacted a heavy tribute from them

Athelstan granted sixty hides at Bremhill to the religious community of Malmesbury.

Athelstan confirmed privileges and estates associated with Taunton for Bishop Frithestan of Winchester.

Athelstan granted Tichborne and Beauworth to remain under the authority of the bishop of Winchester.

Athelstan granted six hides at Uplyme to a royal official also named Athelstan.

Re-captures York from the Danes

Athelstan was buried at Malmesbury rather than in the traditional West Saxon royal burial places.

Athelstan granted fifteen hides at East Overton to Wulfswith, a woman dedicated to religious life.

Athelstan granted twelve hides at Meopham to his minister Eadwulf.

Athelstan died unmarried and childless, and his half-brother Edmund succeeded to the English throne.

Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw

Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw

Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw

Death of Athelstan, "pillar of the dignity of the western world". Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw

Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw

Athelstan died at Gloucester after a reign that had united England and extended royal supremacy across Britain.

Athelstans empire, seemingly made safe by the victory of Brunanburh, collapsed in little more than a year from his death when Amlaib returned from Ireland and seized Northumbria and the Mercian Danelaw