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 Britroyals

King Athelstan (Aethelstan) (924 - 939)


Name: King Athelstan (Aethelstan)
Born: c.895
Parents: Edward the Elder and Ecgywn
Relation to Charles III: 31st great-granduncle
House of: Wessex
Ascended to the throne: July 17, 924
Crowned: September 4, 925 at Kingston-upon-Thames, aged c.30
Married: Unmarried
Children: None
Died: October 27, 939 at Gloucester
Buried at: Malmesbury
Reigned for: 15 years, 3 months, 9 days
Succeeded by: his half brother Edmund

King of England 924–39. The son of Edward the Elder, Athelstan brought about English unity by ruling both Mercia and Wessex. He defeated an invasion by Scots, Irish, and the men of Strathclyde at Brunanburh in 937. He overcame the Scandinavian kingdom based in York and increased English power on the Welsh and Scottish borders.


Timeline for King Athelstan (Aethelstan)

Year Event
924Athelstan becomes King of Wessex and Mercia on the death of his father Edward the Elder.
926Athelstan annexes Northumbria, and forces the kings of Wales, Strathclyde, the Picts, and the Scots to submit to him
926Athelstan marries his sister to Sihtric the Viking King of York to cement his ties with the North
934Athelstan invades Scotland
937Battle of Brunanburh: Athelstan defeats alliance of Scots, Celts, Danes, and Vikings, and takes the title of King of all Britain
939Athelstan dies at Gloucester and is buried at Malmesbury.