25 King Athelstan Facts: Learn About The Ancient Anglo-Saxon Ruler

King Athelstan was a religious man and a great soldier and had a great sense of political knowledge. 

His grandfather, Alfred the Great, rewarded him with a sword at an early age. He was a great warrior with the mindset to destroy his opponents and never was too fearful to attack first. 

His attitude led him to hold many neighboring kingdoms and make some important allies among them. He also made some remarkable changes and developments for the betterment of his people. He used to follow the biblical norms fully and was considered a holy emperor.

Facts About King Athelstan

He was a very religious person who believed in biblical words with high respect. Let's learn some more facts about him.

The meaning of Athelstan is 'noble stone.' It was used in Anglo-Saxon England. The word was revived by Sir Walter Scott.

Athelstan was born sometime around the year 894 AD in Wessex. 

The king spoke the Old Norse language, which may seem strange now but wasn't uncommon back then.

This remarkable King of England belonged to one of the most important royal families of English history. His grandfather was Alfred the Great, who honored his grandson with a scarlet cloak, a belt with precious jewels, and a sword.

The father of Athelstan was one of the most respected Kings of Anglo Saxons, King Edward the Elder, and his mother was named Ecgwynn.

He became crowned king on September 4, 926; the coronation ceremony for this crowning took place in Kingston upon Thames.

He never got married; the successor to his kingdom was his half-brother Edmund I.

He died at age 45, on October 27, 939, in Gloucester, England.

He was buried in Malmesbury Abbey, which he chose before his death as his burial land. Many people hold the opinion that Athelstan's time of kingship was the most glorious time period in England.

King Athelstan's Accomplishments

Athelstan was one of the most renowned kings among Anglo Saxons. He accomplished many milestones of success during his years of kingship.

He was crowned and became the king of Anglo Saxons in 924 at the age of 30. After his brother's sudden death, he got full authority over his kingdom in 927 and started to rule as a king until his death over a decade later.

Different texts and accounts refer to this Anglo Saxon King by different names and titles; these include 'King of the English,' the 'Young Prince of England,' and the 'Greatest King of England.'

One of his most famous and most often mentioned attributes is the fact that he was a Holy Roman Emperor among Anglo Saxons, and such a pious king was considered hard to come by.

He was an audacious warrior; he fought many battles and defeated his enemy with the power of his sword. 

He conquered the Danes and won York; he established dominion over the five Welsh Kings; each of them used to pay him 25,000 sheep annually.

The death of the Norse King, Guthrith, created an opportunity for him to invade.

He conquered the last Viking kingdom of York and established himself as the first Anglo-Saxon ruler of England and the British Isles.

In 934, Athelstan invaded Scotland through the paths of land and sea.

He was a religious person and completed many developments for the church; he established many monasteries in Britain, including the Abbey of St. John in Yorkshire. 

King Athelstan's Reign

Athelstan's reign in the 10th century was an important time for English politics.

His reign's time period was 925-939 AD. He ruled for around fourteen years until his death.

He stretched his kingdom's boundary more than it had ever been noticed before in the history of the Anglo Saxon period in England.

He developed a charitable system in the church for rich people to donate to the poor.

He also used some portion of his own income from various states to improve the conditions of people who needed help.

He employed translators to translate the Bible into English.

He was the first king who worked on the infrastructure of the law system in his reign. He also reformed the constitution by making new rules and regulations. 

Athelstan was a sensible man and the first person who thought about young invaders and gave them a second chance to live their life.

They fought many battles with a huge military success that made his kingdom more powerful and set many examples.

He captured the power of Scotland, Deheubarth, Bamburgh, Strathclyde, and the kings of these areas agreed to take Athelstan as their ruler. 

Personality Of King Athelstan

His accomplishments and personality traits led him to become one of the most remarkable rulers in Britain. 

He was always a believer in Christianity. This was one of the major reasons why he did not get married and have any children; he was more focused on his religion and his reign.

As per records, patience was one of his most significant characteristics.

He is believed to have been the most powerful and dangerous warrior among his own army and was seemingly never scared of his enemy and so was recognized as a great warrior.

He made some crucial changes to currency and developed his states in various ways, protecting them through laws and military strength.

Athelstan is known by historical accounts to have been a man with great virtue who always respected his forefathers and took their names to new heights.

He was intrigued by knowledge and completed his education from merchant court. He also valued the power of education and made arrangements so that the people of his kingdom could learn the basics. This was considered advanced thinking for that time.

He was also a great decision-maker and had a great interest in art, literature, and games. He collected many artworks and scriptures and donated them to the church.

He was a known philanthropist who considered the needs of all his subjects, especially the economically weaker sections.