The First King of England

Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom

David Woodman

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Hardback

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English

University press of USA
02 September 2025

History; British & Irish history; Medieval history

From one of today's leading historians of the early medieval period, an enthralling chronicle of thelstan, England's founder king whose achievements of 927 rival the Norman Conquest of 1066 in shaping Britain as we know it.

The First King of England is a foundational biography of thelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the 'kingdom of the English'. In this panoramic work, David Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.

Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on thelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, thelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the 'kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons'. But it was thelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.

Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of thelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time.

By: David Woodman
Imprint: University press of USA
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9780691249490
ISBN 10: 0691249490
Pages: 344
Publication Date: 02 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

David Woodman is Professor and Fellow in History at Robinson College, University of Cambridge. His books include Edward the Confessor: The Sainted King and The Chronicle of John of Worcester, Volume IV: ""Chronicula."" X: @DavidWoodman45 Bluesky: @davidwoodman45.bsky.social

Reviews for The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom

""A highly engaging and informative biography. . . .Woodman presents Æthelstan as a European king, a scholar, with ruthless ambitions and a strong streak of piety. It would be easy to caricature Æthelstan within certain narratives that aligns with views of English nationhood as it is today, but this book provides a deeper and more nuanced analysis of this fascinating king.""---Clare Downham, The Conversation ""A persuasive account of the ruler with the greatest claim to be the first true king of England. . . .A vital portrait of tenth-century kingship in action.""---Andrew Rabin, History Today ""An impressively well-defined picture of a great Anglo-Saxon king.""---Samuel Rubinstein, Engelsberg Ideas ""An excellent work. One of the best books on early English history, and also one of the best books on how the Dark Ages morphed into early Medieval times.""---Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution ""Indispensable. . . . In these pages a picture of Æthelstan emerges that’s convincing, humane, and surprisingly detailed. Woodman has brought a formidable amount of research muscle to the task of writing what will surely be the definitive life of this pivotal figure barring the discovery of some barrow stuffed with sealed chests of documents.""---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review