The Battle of Brunanburh: England's Forgotten Founding Clash

In 937 AD, King Athelstan faced a massive coalition of Scots, Vikings, and Britons at Brunanburh—a battle so vast it was called 'the great war' in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This episode dives into the only primary source we have, a heroic poem embedded in the chronicle, and explores what the battle meant for the unification of England. Lucas and Luna discuss the geopolitical stakes, the key players like Athelstan's half-brother Edmund, and why this clash, which secured Athelstan's title as 'King of the English,' is overshadowed by Hastings. They also examine the challenges of locating the battlefield—sites from Yorkshire to Cheshire have been proposed—and the mixture of fact and legend in the poetic account. Plus, a candid moment about how listener support keeps Fexingo History ad-free. #BattleOfBrunanburh #Athelstan #AngloSaxonEngland #VikingAge #EdmundI #OlafGuthfrithson #ConstantineII #AngloSaxonChronicle #BrunanburhPoem #EnglandUnification #MedievalBattles #Northumbria #DublinVikings #KingdomOfAlba #Wessex #Mercia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo