Ethelstan: Or, the Battle of Brunanburgh, a Dramatic Chronicle

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Narrator: And just as Alfred had predicted, Athelstan became a great king. He helped the poor and passed laws to make the kingdom safer… He built churches and monasteries, promoted learning and had The Bible translated into English… According to William of Malmesbury, after the Hereford meeting Æthelstan went on to expel the Cornish from Exeter, fortify its walls, and fix the Cornish boundary at the River Tamar. This account is regarded sceptically by historians, however, as Cornwall had been under English rule since the mid-ninth century. Thomas Charles-Edwards describes it as "an improbable story", while historian John Reuben Davies sees it as the suppression of a British revolt and the confinement of the Cornish beyond the Tamar. Æthelstan emphasised his control by establishing a new Cornish see and appointing its first bishop, but Cornwall kept its own culture and language. [51] Silver penny of King Æthelstan Awley [i.e. Anlaf], with all the Danes of Dublin and north part of Ireland, departed and went over seas. The Danes that departed from Dublin arrived in England, & by the help of the Danes of that kingdom, they gave battle to the Saxons on the plaines of othlyn, where there was a great slaughter of Normans and Danes. [2] Anonymous. "Chronica de Mailros". in The Battle of Brunanburh. A Casebook. Ed. Michael Livingston. University of Exeter Press. 2011. pp. 66–7

a b Cavill, Paul. ”The Place-Name Debate". In The Battle of Brunanburh. A Casebook. Ed. Michael Livingston. University of Exeter Press. 2011. pp. 331–335 Narrator: One day, not long before he died, it is said that Alfred the Great - King of Wessex - called together the most important people in his court… Athelfleda: You have much to learn! We do not hate you. The people here are just afraid - afraid of Wessex because Wessex is strong - just like Wessex fears the Vikings because they are strong. In this land everyone is afraid of everyone else. But what if one day everyone could stop fearing one other and come together as one?

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Few medieval texts refer to a known place, although the Humber estuary is mentioned by several sources. John of Worcester's Chronicon (early 12th C), [35] Symeon of Durham's Historia Regum (mid-12th C), [72] the Chronicle of Melrose (late 12th C) [75] and Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Chronicle (1338) [76] all state that Olaf's fleet entered the mouth of the Humber, while Robert of Gloucester's Metrical Chronicle (late 13th C) [77] says the invading army arrived "south of the Humber". Peter of Langtoft's Chronique (ca. 1300) [78] states the armies met at “ Bruneburgh on the Humber”, while Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Chronicle (1338) [76] claims the battle was fought at “ Brunesburgh on Humber”. Pseudo-Ingulf (ca. 1400) [79] says that as Æthelstan led his army into Northumbria (i.e. north of the Humber) he met on his way many pilgrims coming home from Beverley. Hector Boece's Historia (1527) [80] claims that the battle was fought by the River Ouse, which flows into the Humber estuary. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’ Ending Explained: Does England Finally Forms in The Last Kingdom? When the Vikings raided, they had no problem raiding churches, monasteries, and other religious places that the Christian community considered sacred and untouchable.

He is generally regarded as the first true King of England, and the father of medieval England. His achievements go far beyond merely asserting a strong central rule; he laid the foundation for monastic reform, established a thorough and efficient system of government, justice, and administration, and helped make England one of the wealthiest nations in Europe. Fearing further challenges, he banished his other brother Edwin. He set him afloat on a small boat with no provisions. Edwin is said to have drowned himself rather than face starvation. At any rate, he was never seen again. Athelstan later regretted this action and undertook many charity works to compensate for it. Some historians disagree with this tale and state that Edwin fled of his own accord after a rebellion against his brother went awry. Athelstan sent alms to the abbey in France where Edwin was buried. Anglo-Saxon kings ruled through ealdormen, who had the highest lay status under the king. In ninth-century Wessex they each ruled a single shire, but by the middle of the tenth they had authority over a much wider area, a change probably introduced by Æthelstan to deal with the problems of governing his extended realm. [69] One of the ealdormen, who was also called Æthelstan, governed the eastern Danelaw territory of East Anglia, the largest and wealthiest province of England. He became so powerful that he was later known as Æthelstan Half King. [70] Several of the ealdormen who witnessed charters had Scandinavian names, and while the localities they came from cannot be identified, they were almost certainly the successors of the earls who led Danish armies in the time of Edward the Elder, and who were retained by Æthelstan as his representatives in local government. [71] Anonymous. ”Chronica de Mailros". In The Battle of Brunanburh. A Casebook. Ed. Michael Livingston. University of Exeter Press. 2011. pp. 66–67 Athelstan died at the height of his power and was buried at Malmesbury; a church charter of 934 described him as 'King of the English, elevated by the right hand of the Almighty ... to the Throne of the whole Kingdom of Britain'. Athelstan died childless.

Who Is Athelstan and Is He Based on a Real King?

According to the Anglo-Norman historian William of Malmesbury, Æthelstan was thirty years old when he came to the throne in 924, which would mean that he was born around 894. He was the oldest son of Edward the Elder. He was Edward's only son by his first consort, Ecgwynn. Very little is known about Ecgwynn, and she is not named in any contemporary source. Medieval chroniclers gave varying descriptions of her rank: one described her as an ignoble consort of inferior birth, while others described her birth as noble. [13] Modern historians also disagree about her status. Simon Keynes and Richard Abels believe that leading figures in Wessex were unwilling to accept Æthelstan as king in 924 partly because his mother had been Edward the Elder's concubine. [14] However, Barbara Yorke and Sarah Foot argue that allegations that Æthelstan was illegitimate were a product of the dispute over the succession, and that there is no reason to doubt that she was Edward's legitimate wife. [15] She may have been related to St Dunstan. [16] Alfred: Hmm, that is a good answer. A wise answer. You will be king, but you will always be yourself. Now, turn round and face the people. My lords - look upon this child. This is Athelstan. You will remember that name. Another very early source, [27] the Irish Annals of Ulster, calls the battle "a huge war, lamentable and horrible". [28] It notes Anlaf's return to Dublin with a few men the following year, associated with an event in the spring. [13] Whether someone like Athelstan would have had such a privileged place among the Vikings is questionable, as is the question of whether he would have been able to gain the trust of an English king like Ecbert having spent so long with the Vikings. Athelstan was born around 894 CE. After the death of his mother, his father Edward married again and had more children. One of these was Aelfweard. With the death of King Edward in 924, a scuffle broke out between the brothers. Edward had had three wives and several sons and Athelstan naturally did not have the support of his stepmothers.

Since the show is based on Cornwell’s books, the producers retained his interpretation of Athelstan, including sexuality which brought more diversity to the movie. s victory prevented the dissolution of England, but it failed to unite the island: Scotland and Strathclyde remained independent. [44] Foot writes that "[e]xaggerating the importance of this victory is difficult". [44] Livingston writes that the battle was "the moment when Englishness came of age" and "one of the most significant battles in the long history not just of England but of the whole of the British isles". [45] The battle was called "the greatest single battle in Anglo-Saxon history before the Hastings" by Alfred Smyth, who nonetheless says its consequences beyond Æthelstan's reign have been overstated. [46]Athelstan is known for various things. Not only did he unite England and become the first true king there, but he was also an able ruler. His household was said to be a center of learning during his reign. He also played an extremely important role in European politics, since he forged alliances by marrying his sisters to rulers in Europe. In many ways, he was the father of medieval England. Historians have stated that no king of England demonstrated such able leadership as Athelstan until Edward I, Hammer of the Scots. Ascension to Throne Anonymous. ”Annals of Clonmacnoise". In The Battle of Brunanburh. A Casebook. Ed. Michael Livingston. University of Exeter Press. 2011. pp. 152–153 He was also extremely pious, had vowed not to marry or father children, and worked closely with the church. Athelstan took an active role in appointing bishops, collecting and donating relics to churches, and improving the quality of education. Much has been said about Athelstan founding new churches but most historians consider this folklore since he did not do much to renovate the churches that had been destroyed by the Vikings.