England as we know it today wasn’t the result of a single, dramatic unification. It was a slow, hard-won process by a series of determined kings, from Alfred the Great and through his descendants. This is the story of how the Anglo-Saxons unified England in one century, looking at the five most influential kings.
Alfred Lays The Foundation
When Alfred the Great inherited the kingdom of Wessex in 871, his kingdom, along with the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, was plagued by fierce Viking invasions. By the mid-870s, Vikings had overrun the kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia. Wessex stood alone.
Alfred didn’t just survive the Viking onslaught, he fought back. After his decisive victory at the Battle of Edington (878), Alfred forced the Vikings to retreat to East Anglia and strengthening his kingdom’s defenses. A few years later, he recaptured London from the Vikings, and began styling himself as “King of the Anglo-Saxons”. Alfred considered himself to be the first king of all Anglo-Saxons, even those in Viking-ruled regions, hinting at a single, unified kingdom.
Edward Consolidates Power
Edward inherited the throne of Wessex and title “King of the Anglo-Saxons” from his father, Alfred, in 899 and picked up the task of strengthening his kingdom’s defenses. He also continued pushing the Vikings back and expanding his control. Edward led a series of military campaigns to retake Viking-ruled southern and central England, most notably his victory at the Battle of Tettenhall (910).
After his victories, Edward extended his control over the land further than his father had ever done. He imposed direct rule on Mercia and East Anglia after liberating them from the Vikings, bringing them closer to unification with Wessex. The only Anglo-Saxon kingdom that remained out of his reach was Northumbria.
Athelstan Unifies The Kingdom
Alfred’s grandson, Athelstan, took things much further. Following the death of his father, Edward, in 924, Athelstan inherited control over three of the four Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. He also inherited a strong foundation to be able to unite all Anglo-Saxons. And he did just this when, in 927, he captured York from the Vikings, securing control over Northumbria and declaring himself the first “King of England”.
Not only did he unify England, but Athelstan also consolidated his power over it. When the Vikings returned and invaded England, Athelstan defeated them at the Battle of Brunanburh (937), solidifying his title and gaining prestige across the British Isles and on the Continent.
Eadred Retakes The North
However, control over the north wasn’t secure yet. When Athelstan died in 939, Vikings captured York once again. For years, the Anglo-Saxons struggled to regain control of Northumbria.
Eadred inherited the throne of the whole kingdom from his brother in 946, though control over the north was only in name, and the Vikings truly ruled there. His brothers Athelstan and Edmund fought in battles to secure the north, and Eadred continued this. Despite several failed attempts in the past, Eadred managed to reconquer York in 954 and expelled its last Viking ruler. This time, Northumbria remained with the English and would never fall again. Eadred ensured he and his successors would rule all of England unchallenged.
Edgar Brings Peace
Eadred’s nephew, Edgar, great-grandson of Alfred the Great, inherited the whole kingdom of England in 959. Unlike his predecessors, Edgar had full control of the north and the rest of England from the start. His reign is typically viewed as the height of Anglo-Saxon England.
Throughout the 960s and 970s, Viking invasions came to a halt, and this allowed Edgar to have a relatively peaceful reign. Often remembered as “Edgar the Peaceful”, the King took the time to standardize laws, support monastic reforms, and improve central authority like never before. This “golden age” in England was much different than the kingdom under Alfred 100 years earlier, but would not have been possible without the struggles of Edgar’s forefathers.
King Edgar ruled until his death in 975, leaving behind growing stability in England. He and his predecessors managed to turn a fragmented group of kingdoms into a single nation. Although the Anglo-Saxons lost control over England in the next 100 years, they left behind a lasting legacy and set examples for future English kings.
Image source: Genealogical Chronicle of the Kings of England. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/811798
