The Rulers of England
When the Roman Empire declined power and territory passed - by conquest, by law, by ancestral claim or by simple accident - into the hands of local warleaders, nobles and bishoprics. In southern Britain, a number of competing Saxon kingdoms emerged, while Scandinavian invaders created administrative regions of their own. Between the ninth and tenth centuries the kings of Wessex evolved into the kings of the English, crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Consequently, no one is universally recognized as the first King of England. Some historians start with Egbert, the king of Wessex whose overlordship of the Saxons led visibly to the growth of an English crown, even though his immediate inheritors were still only crowned heads of smaller kingdoms. Other writers commence with Athelstan, the first man to be crowned King of the English. Egbert has been included below, but his position is clearly marked.
Some entries were uncrowned and are not universally recognized; indeed, Louis is almost universally ignored, so be careful when citing them in your work. All kings and queens unless noted.
Having been forced into exile, Egbert returned to England where he claimed a West Saxon throne and fought a series of battles, and made a series of claims, which formed round him a powerful kingdom of Wessex; he also broke the dominant power of the Mercians.
A son of Egbert, Aethelwulf did well against invading Danes, including forming an alliance with Mercia, but encountered problems when he went on pilgrimage to Rome and was deposed. He clung onto a few regions until he died.
A son of Aethelwulf who had won a notable victory, he rebelled against his father and seized the throne of Wessex, later marrying his step mother.
Another son of Aethelwulf, he ruled Kent until the death of the former, and his brother the king, and succeeded to Wessex.
Having stood aside when Athelbert became king, Athelred finally succeeded to the throne and together with his brother Alfred fought against Danish invaders.
The fourth son of Aethelbald to take the throne of Wessex, Alfred stopped England being conquered by Danish invaders, secured his realm, laid the foundations for reconquest, and was a hugely important patron of learning and culture.
Although Athelstan was the first named King of the English, it was Edward who expanded Wessex to cover most of the territory the throne would then include.
Whether Elfweard, a son of Edward the Elder, became king after his father’s death depends on which source you read, but he may only have lived for sixteen days longer.
Athelstan is a claimant to be the first English king, for having been elected to the throne of Wessex and Mercia following the death of his father he establish practical control over the whole country and was the first name King of the English, and King of all Britain. He took York from the Vikings, and fought the Scots and Vikings to keep it.
Edmund came to the throne on the death of his half-brother Athelstan (their father was Edward the Elder), but had to deal with Norse claimants to the north who recaptured the region. This he did by force, went into Scotland and made a deal with Malcolm I that bought peace to the border. He was murdered by an exile.
Consequently, no one is universally recognized as the first King of England. Some historians start with Egbert, the king of Wessex whose overlordship of the Saxons led visibly to the growth of an English crown, even though his immediate inheritors were still only crowned heads of smaller kingdoms. Other writers commence with Athelstan, the first man to be crowned King of the English. Egbert has been included below, but his position is clearly marked.
Some entries were uncrowned and are not universally recognized; indeed, Louis is almost universally ignored, so be careful when citing them in your work. All kings and queens unless noted.
1. Egbert 802-39 King of Wessex
Having been forced into exile, Egbert returned to England where he claimed a West Saxon throne and fought a series of battles, and made a series of claims, which formed round him a powerful kingdom of Wessex; he also broke the dominant power of the Mercians.
2. Aethelwulf 839-55/6
A son of Egbert, Aethelwulf did well against invading Danes, including forming an alliance with Mercia, but encountered problems when he went on pilgrimage to Rome and was deposed. He clung onto a few regions until he died.
3. Aethelbald 855/6-860
A son of Aethelwulf who had won a notable victory, he rebelled against his father and seized the throne of Wessex, later marrying his step mother.
4. Athelbert 860-65/66
Another son of Aethelwulf, he ruled Kent until the death of the former, and his brother the king, and succeeded to Wessex.
5. Athelred I 865/6-871
Having stood aside when Athelbert became king, Athelred finally succeeded to the throne and together with his brother Alfred fought against Danish invaders.
6. Alfred, the Great 871-99
The fourth son of Aethelbald to take the throne of Wessex, Alfred stopped England being conquered by Danish invaders, secured his realm, laid the foundations for reconquest, and was a hugely important patron of learning and culture.
7. Edward the Elder 899-924
Although Athelstan was the first named King of the English, it was Edward who expanded Wessex to cover most of the territory the throne would then include.
8. Elfweard 924 uncrowned, ruled 16 days
Whether Elfweard, a son of Edward the Elder, became king after his father’s death depends on which source you read, but he may only have lived for sixteen days longer.
9. Athelstan 924-39 First named King of the English
Athelstan is a claimant to be the first English king, for having been elected to the throne of Wessex and Mercia following the death of his father he establish practical control over the whole country and was the first name King of the English, and King of all Britain. He took York from the Vikings, and fought the Scots and Vikings to keep it.
10. Edmund I, the Magnificent 939-46
Edmund came to the throne on the death of his half-brother Athelstan (their father was Edward the Elder), but had to deal with Norse claimants to the north who recaptured the region. This he did by force, went into Scotland and made a deal with Malcolm I that bought peace to the border. He was murdered by an exile.
