House of Wessex - King Athelstan
Name: King Athelstan
Father: Edward the Elder
Mother: Ecgywn
Born: c.895
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, 940 at Gloucester
Buried at: Malmesbury
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
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 924 | Athelstan becomes King of Wessex and Mercia on the death of his father Edward the Elder. |
| 926 | Athelstan annexes Northumbria, and forces the kings of Wales, Strathclyde, the Picts, and the Scots to submit to him |
| 926 | Athelstan marries his sister to Sihtric the Viking King of York to cement his ties with the North. |
| 927 | Sihtric dies. Athelstan declares himself King of All England. |
| 934 | Athelstan invades Scotland. |
| 937 | Battle of Brunanburh: Athelstan defeats an alliance of Scots, Celts, Danes, and Vikings. |
| 939 | Athelstan dies at Gloucester and is buried at Malmesbury. |