Athelstan's Crown: The King Who Made England

Before there was a King of England, there was Athelstan. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Athelstan forged a unified English kingdom out of the patchwork of Anglo-Saxon realms. They discuss his coronation at Kingston upon Thames in 925, his use of the title 'Rex Anglorum' on coins and charters, and the military campaigns that extended his rule to the borders of Scotland. They also delve into his legal reforms at the Council of Grately, his patronage of the church, and his role as a collector of relics and manuscripts. The episode touches on the tensions between Wessex and Mercia, and how Athelstan's diplomacy with European rulers—including marriages of his half-sisters—elevated England's standing abroad. A nuanced portrait of a king who combined Viking-era warfare with Carolingian-style statecraft. #Athelstan #KingOfEngland #RexAnglorum #KingstonUponThames #CouncilOfGrately #GratelyCode #AngloSaxonEngland #Wessex #Mercia #TenthCentury #Coronation #Coins #Charters #Relics #Diplomacy #EnglishKingship #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo