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The Age of Athelstan: Britain's Forgotten History (Revealing History
King Athelstan (924–939) is one of history’s forgotten monarchs. A grandson of Alfred the Great, his achievements outshine many of our most famous kings—he began his reign as king of the Anglo-Saxons in the south of England, and ended as the self-styled king of all Britain. During Athelstan’s reign there was a tremendous power struggle between the English, Scots, Norse, Irish, Danes, and Welsh, culminating in 937 in a battle the importance of which was not equalled until Hastings—the lost battle of Brunanburh.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
68 people want to read
About the author
Paul Hill
10 books4 followersPaul Hill is well known as a lecturer, author and expert on medieval warfare and military archaeology
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 2, 2011
'The Age of Athelstan', is certainly a great history book. Published in 2004, Paul Hill is a modern English writer of the early English medievil period to rank alongside Wood and Swanton. I have to admit a bias on my review here, the subject matter is right at the heart of my historical interest. The 'dark ages' read to me like Tolkien and I have long held a fascination for the Anglo Saxon period. So this work on Athelstan sits at the very peak of the age.
However, to judge with dispassion, the book is so well written, by an author clearly at home with the subject matter. The mid 9th to mid 10th centuries cover so many colossal personalities and events, that gave birth to the English nation, from the ashes of a 'Viking' assault and a resurgent royal line of Wessex. All is analysed in great detail. The book contains many contemporary sources, not least the Anglo Saxon chronicles but also the histories and Annals from the Celtic, Nordic and western European worlds. Modern day archaeology is used throughout to shed light on these dark ages.
The Hill climb begins with Alfred, king of Wessex 871-900 to Edward the Elder, king of the Anglo Saxons 900-924 and Athelstan king of the Anglo Saxons-king of the English & king of all Britain 924-939. The book also contains a very interesting history of the lost site of the battle of 'Brunanburh' in 937 AD.
Sorry Winston, but though this line has lasted a further thousand years, people should still say, THIS was their finest hour.
Also interesting to learn that the reputed location of Athelstan's bones is also the resting place of a Canadian cousin of mine killed in WWII.
However, to judge with dispassion, the book is so well written, by an author clearly at home with the subject matter. The mid 9th to mid 10th centuries cover so many colossal personalities and events, that gave birth to the English nation, from the ashes of a 'Viking' assault and a resurgent royal line of Wessex. All is analysed in great detail. The book contains many contemporary sources, not least the Anglo Saxon chronicles but also the histories and Annals from the Celtic, Nordic and western European worlds. Modern day archaeology is used throughout to shed light on these dark ages.
The Hill climb begins with Alfred, king of Wessex 871-900 to Edward the Elder, king of the Anglo Saxons 900-924 and Athelstan king of the Anglo Saxons-king of the English & king of all Britain 924-939. The book also contains a very interesting history of the lost site of the battle of 'Brunanburh' in 937 AD.
Sorry Winston, but though this line has lasted a further thousand years, people should still say, THIS was their finest hour.
Also interesting to learn that the reputed location of Athelstan's bones is also the resting place of a Canadian cousin of mine killed in WWII.
February 12, 2020
This isn't a bad book and whilst it's certainly better than The road to Hastings by the same author, it's still not really top notch. It's an enjoyable read without being particularly challenging.
The first thing you notice, though, is the lack of Athelstan content. The book begins by describing the sources, which is fair enough, but you then learn a lot about Alfred's time, a bit about Edward et al, before you reach our man in chapter 5. Broadly speaking chapter 6 is all about the context of Brunanburh, 7 is a pretty good summary of the arguments of the various locations for Brunanburh and then chapters 8 and 9 are about the history of the kingdom after Athelstan's death. Chapter 10 is Athelstan's memory and legend. So for 200 or so pages of book, you don't really get a lot of Athelstan for your money.
Instead, what you do get is a decent general history of the the 50 or so years either side of Edward the Elder's death, with more detail of the before than the after. This is ok, as far as it goes, but there are a few things that Hill could have explained better. The tribal hidage rating of 100,000 hides for Wessex is quoted, but without any question or explanation as to this extraordinary figure. Hill also takes the term Bretwalda more seriously and anachronistically than many other people. His argument about York/Northumbria not wanting to be ruled by the South would perhaps have been better explained less as almost the traditional North/South divide, but instead as the North not wanting to be ruled by those not connected to the traditional players of the region, or actually resident there. The Hiberno-Norse may have been outsiders, but they did at least set up shop in York, as opposed to the Anglo-Saxon kings, who were visitors.
Three things you'll take from this book:
1, you'll be grateful that other people are wading through the special pleadings of local historians who have 'found' Brunanburh in their localities
2, how uncertain the prospects of an Atheling could be. All it took was an extra marriage or an untimely death for all bets to be off
3, Athelstan did well to push the boundaries of England out and to keep what he gained
The first thing you notice, though, is the lack of Athelstan content. The book begins by describing the sources, which is fair enough, but you then learn a lot about Alfred's time, a bit about Edward et al, before you reach our man in chapter 5. Broadly speaking chapter 6 is all about the context of Brunanburh, 7 is a pretty good summary of the arguments of the various locations for Brunanburh and then chapters 8 and 9 are about the history of the kingdom after Athelstan's death. Chapter 10 is Athelstan's memory and legend. So for 200 or so pages of book, you don't really get a lot of Athelstan for your money.
Instead, what you do get is a decent general history of the the 50 or so years either side of Edward the Elder's death, with more detail of the before than the after. This is ok, as far as it goes, but there are a few things that Hill could have explained better. The tribal hidage rating of 100,000 hides for Wessex is quoted, but without any question or explanation as to this extraordinary figure. Hill also takes the term Bretwalda more seriously and anachronistically than many other people. His argument about York/Northumbria not wanting to be ruled by the South would perhaps have been better explained less as almost the traditional North/South divide, but instead as the North not wanting to be ruled by those not connected to the traditional players of the region, or actually resident there. The Hiberno-Norse may have been outsiders, but they did at least set up shop in York, as opposed to the Anglo-Saxon kings, who were visitors.
Three things you'll take from this book:
1, you'll be grateful that other people are wading through the special pleadings of local historians who have 'found' Brunanburh in their localities
2, how uncertain the prospects of an Atheling could be. All it took was an extra marriage or an untimely death for all bets to be off
3, Athelstan did well to push the boundaries of England out and to keep what he gained
June 9, 2020
In places good, in others not so and I really don't know or now care, where the Battle of Brunanburh happened, as Hill's conjecture about it was tedious. The flow of the narrative bogged down in several areas and got lost in uninteresting minutia. There were some interesting facts about Saxon culture, but in need of weaving together in such a way as to maintain the pace of the events during this fascinating era in England's genesis.
April 1, 2018
If you mentioned the name Athelstan I would have (before this book) automatically thought of
From The Vikings
However, Athelstan was a real person. He was the King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939. He was the son of King Edward and the grandson of Alfred the Great.
Why is Athelstan important? Well, modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings. Athelstan centralised government; he increased control over the production of charters and summoned leading figures from distant areas to his councils. These meetings were also attended by rulers from outside his territory, especially Welsh kings, who thus acknowledged his overlordship. More legal texts survive from his reign than from any other 10th-century English king. No other West Saxon king played as important a role in European politics as Athelstan, and he arranged the marriages of several of his sisters to continental rulers.
4 stars
From The Vikings
However, Athelstan was a real person. He was the King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939. He was the son of King Edward and the grandson of Alfred the Great.
Why is Athelstan important? Well, modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings. Athelstan centralised government; he increased control over the production of charters and summoned leading figures from distant areas to his councils. These meetings were also attended by rulers from outside his territory, especially Welsh kings, who thus acknowledged his overlordship. More legal texts survive from his reign than from any other 10th-century English king. No other West Saxon king played as important a role in European politics as Athelstan, and he arranged the marriages of several of his sisters to continental rulers.
4 stars
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews