Aethelstan: The First King of England (British Kings & Queens Explained)

Considered to be the very first King of a unified England - too bad ol' Alfred overshadowed him so much.
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Artwork/Illustrations by
Elisa Fratarcangelo ( akiliz_?hl=en)
Douglas Deri (artstation.com/douglasderi)
Karlo Lottersberger (artstation.com/karlottersberger)
Animation by
Michael Merc (bit.ly/340tcO2)
Music by
Graham Plowman: www.grahamplowman.com
Derek/Brandon Fietcher: bit.ly/3e8gJw7
#Aethelstan #Kings&Queens #EnglishHistory

[@adnaanu]

I've worked in Kingston Upon Thames for over 20 years. Every day I pass by the coronation stone where Aethelstan and the other Saxon kings were crowned. I get a sense of connection to the past.

[@pfranks75]

How inspiring to actually see artifacts from the distant past.

[@KinggScar]

That's amazing, jealousy of your job is strong

[@collinsjeri07]

How awesome is that! I love how the stone connects us even to the ancient past.

[@pilotwhaleproductions5880]

And yet the stone just languishes next to the worlds most useless Police Station

[@drummondjwall9509]

I must go there one day I'm trying to understand my ansesters

[@jaredmn8580]

Queen Elizabeth: ah yes, I remember him

[@SomeGuy-fl1gz]

Queen elizabeth has an autographed bible

[@gokublaclivesmatter7151]

🤔

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

She built the pyramids

[@dylanmurphy6894]

@@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733 she made the aliens who built them

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

@@dylanmurphy6894 that's where she stores her eggs that will hatch soon.

[@Multifire]

Props to the artist, these drawings are great and really helps keep my attention.

[@ianmedford4855]

I love what you're doing with this channel. Archiving the foundational stories of civilization and making them easily understandable is pretty significant. Oh, and please do Beowulf.

[@daklowry3646]

Super excited for this serious, keep them coming!

[@jasminforever2527]

Closest story to this is Netflix “Last Kingdom” great upload😎😎

[@larryamberwhatley4242]

I know it’s not 100% accurate, but in the show Vikings, Aethelstan is Alfred’s father. So this is really cool! I really love watching your videos. They are so informative.

[@allanbaker3958]

Also in the end, One of Ragnar's sons is renamed Aethelstan. Kinda cool in that show how each Son represented a different side of Him. Pity about the forgotten Daughter who dies early of a plague.

[@mangot589]

It’s not even remotely accurate, except for a very few things. But I have been watching since the beginning, and I do like the show, (mainly). For entertainment? Yes. For history, No. But you can look up the biggies and see their real stories (sagas, if even those are real, I’m sure they have some basis in fact).

[@Erieswitchcraft]

Hvitserk is renamed athelstan in the end... 🤔 By king Alfred. Wonder if that is this case

[@latindwarf8173]

@@Erieswitchcraft I'm almost sure that Hvitserk (in the show, of course) will become King Aethelstan of England. Not to mention, the Seer once told him that he'll acomplish something many tried and failed, so it could simply be taking over Wessex, but I guess we'll never know.

[@shawnsingeton9800]

@@Erieswitchcraft big facts i was gana bring that up

[@sherryberry485]

This reminds me of Vikings. Awesome series, awesome content!

[@amberswafford9305]

I’m subscribed to a load of channels on a range of subjects here on KZbin but I do believe this one is hands down my favorite. This and his mythology channel.

[@joroche2948]

I came across this channel by accident last night . So many great videos I had to give it a sub

[@Chaz1871]

I love the art you use in your videos. The images on the scrolls remind me of the art from a game called Age of Empires.

[@judithhope8970]

This was very interesting and it's so nice to hear the story of this wonderful king, quite my favourite. Many thanks.

[@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433]

We all know that without Uthred of Bebbanburgh Wessex would have fallen to the norse and Brittain would be speaking danish now. :-D

[@audree70]

Silly

[@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433]

@@audree70 snob

[@windasafriend]

🤣🤣🤣 So, I am not the only one here because of TLK

[@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433]

@@windasafriend Well technically I am here because of the Uthred Saga by Bernard Cronwell. On which TLK is based. But you are not wrong. :-D

[@DanielTheAwesome86]

@@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433 I didn't know it was based off a book series, Thanks for giving me something new to read.

[@dormantpixi2628]

Thank you for the video. I've always been interested in the early Kings of Britian. Would have loved to have seen maps to go with the drawings in the video.

[@julieamcalees2929]

Love ur videos my friend I thank u

[@jamesx2464]

Another good one man but would love for you to touch on the mythology of Gog and Magog

[@sandromnator]

>mythology You mean historical?

[@jamesx2464]

@@sandromnator I need help on that part that's why I suggested LOL but I think they were part of Mythology and history depending on how you describe them as 2 Demons or a cannibalistic tribe

[@benparrish672]

Did you see the versions of GOG & MAGOG on "Supernatural" Dean Winchester is hilarious

[@mariachavez3709]

Gog and Mather MaGog is China And Russia. Asian and Caucasian Cauc-Asian. See their both Asian one being first and then other second

[@mariachavez3709]

@@rosethorns1893 I could be wrong but there is 4 root races black, red, yellow, and gray which they call white. The Arabs Mexican an natives are a mixture from this

[@mapalozimba2107]

Anyone watched the last kingdom

[@progamingbrosyo5068]

Yep enjoyed every bit of it

[@leam7018]

Waiting (im)patiently for it to come back lol

[@TheKnitch]

Yep.

[@hoaxxin.vvv.5286]

I was listening to the kingdom names in the video and I thought they sounded familiar lol

[@audree70]

Twice. Of course playing dumb for my husband the second go around.

[@TheCMoneyPlaya]

how the heck did these awesome names ever go out of style?

[@user-xd5pr4qd4z]

Say that to my uncles Ubba and Ætelwulf

[@jonny177]

Nice Vid -Easier to follow than some of the other ive seen, even if everyones name began with 'E' back then!

[@takesebrown3116]

this is the best video!!

[@Madsharley]

Like your vids, but here it would have been real nice with some maps. 😉

[@crystalgreco5699]

Love love love your voice.

[@shahirpanwala]

King Athelsten was a forward thinking and very intelligent and just ruler. He anticipated certain political moves and acted accordingly. He cared for his people and wanted them to be educated and have a good moral fibre. To be able to unite the Kingdoms and be a good diplomat and create a United Government under his rule was a stroke of genius and is the underlined template of the Anglo Saxon imprint on British culture he paved the way for the Generations of rulers to take this little island surrounded by Seas on all sides to be an Empire that went on to rule and stamp its authority and forward thinking people to give the World so much that is used to shape our lives now. That’s my thoughts on King Athelsten he is The United Kingdom’s first ruler regardless of what other historians may say there is enough evidence to say categorically he unified the 4 Kingdoms of England

[@si4632]

people forget they were all Catholic

[@Englishman-_-Mongolia2022]

Æthelstan, unified England in 927ad and was the first king of England. It irritates me everyone pretends william the bastard was the first

[@mikem2114]

Interesting video

[@mathieuleader8601]

Aethelstan as a name needs to make a comeback

[@reecemesser]

It's more of a title than a name

[@melissathieme9555]

Aethelstan in german litteraly translates to Edelstein(nobel or highborn stone.) Which basicaly translates to jewel or gem in english.

[@cyn7732]

Agreed.

[@Anne-pv9cb]

Names like JaMarcus and Sharkeisha are now taking over

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

His reign was similar to the Persian kings. In that he would submit other kings hence "King of Kings. Or a type of proto emperor because its multiple lands and different cultures. Basically he crushed their proud necks!

[@user-xd5pr4qd4z]

No just the biggest horse and the most mates

[@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433]

Love the AoE II style art BTW.

[@chrisberatis2612]

Do you think it’s possible if you can do a video on Marpessa of Aetolia from Greek mythology?

[@johnrogers8836]

You touch on the topic of learning.... perhaps too briefly. It is significant that Athelstan acted as foster father to other future leaders, perhaps most significantly to Hakon (the good), future king of Norway, doing Christendom the favor of displacing Eric bloodaxe. His legacy was large

[@trishabidesi8604]

His trying to simplify it as many would click off. This will tell people of the Great King to spread more of who he is.

[@slopptopp]

This channel is badass

[@jamellfoster6029]

Aethelweard was Aelthelstan's half brother not stepbrother as they shared 1 parent (their Dad)... Step-siblings don't share parents at birth. One of each of their parents marry each other...

[@dhgodzilla1]

Ohhh the teeming masses that only know hollywood history.. Thank you for the great channel & work you put in

[@markadams7046]

I thought the English always considered Alfred The Great as their first king. (With the exception of the time they considered the mythical Arthur as their first king).

[@maricarteodoro5907]

Alfred laid the foundations, continued by Edward and completed by Aethelstan.

[@dylanmurphy6894]

England wasn’t unified until 927

[@kaiung7542]

Watch The Last Kingdom on netflix. It is historically accurate, maybe not all the actions and everything in between but Alfred the Great had visions of uniting all Kingdoms to become England. Edward the Elder came and did some and eventually his son Aethalstan accomplished it, becoming the first King of England.

[@mrdarren1045]

@@kaiung7542 except æthelstans relationship to alfred is totally wrong.

[@mrdarren1045]

Alfred was the first king of the angles and saxons but not of a united England. The first king of all England was æthelstan.

[@erc621]

So through my granny princess Marianna Cottone I descent also from Sir John de Cotentin Duke of Normandy and Cornwall

[@dazhibernian]

It was law that everyone's name back then had to begin with Aethel.

[@dobeedeux]

Close, sort of. Old English word for Prince, basically...royal, in line for the throne, etc.

[@erc621]

My granny princess Marianna Cottone she belongs to the House of Cotton and She descents from the ancients kings of Wessex but also from Charlemagne and from king Henry Il of England

[@hanzohattori7372]

I hear bout him long time ago

[@Axey_Gacha]

You should really add parts into it

[@Lafeolamom]

Great 👍

[@95manneya]

Yeah but what about Utred of Babbenbrook? Did he ever get his castle 🏰 back?

[@niktorrente6640]

Bebbanburgh *

[@Mikefantasia22]

Babbenbrook?

[@Mikefantasia22]

Uhtred is known historically as Uhtred the Unready. He spent his hears fighting off Danes, unsuccessfully

[@TheKnitch]

Babbenbrook. LMAO

[@amyjones8114]

Bibbenburger

[@Angel-em4vm]

3:05 i was so serious and eager to learn the history then you see this😂

[@GrimskyKorsakov]

As a Herefordian I can assure you that not much has happened on the banks of the Wye since.

[@athelstankingofwessex7622]

Ahh 😌 The ol’ good days Cheerio

[@danielling5283]

Truly was a great king indeed

[@EntertainMeNow78]

This sounds like a prequel to a Lord of the Rings movie

[@THINKincessantly]

Howdy🇨🇱 Good job on the Anglo Kings The Anglo Saxons are all that ever mattered anyway👑 Haha--Great channel, subd.

[@weddaa6151]

RIP the queen she will be missed

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

God bless the Queen! Her death got me to this page, to learn more about the history of the British monarchy. In American schools, they are barely mentioned before the Revolutionary War. Our historical teaching is very poor. Even now, it’s being phased out as being too “white/Eurocentric”, which is of course “evil”! They should make Orwell’s “1984” required reading. I’m amazed and interested in the history of all cultures and races! Especially the Arabs and other cultures that developed mathematics , engineering, and astronomy. In many ways, they had far more intelligence than humans in general today!

[@robinnogueira5704]

5:42 they were his half brothers , not step brothers seeing they had the same father.

[@lynnehamer239]

👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@johnprzybycien1644]

Sounds like this guy was the real King Arthur.

[@reecemesser]

Someone has to be

[@danjacob6635]

no it wasn’t King Arthur is from far back in time around when the anglo-Saxons had invaded he is based on a Welsh King who fought them back

[@johnprzybycien1644]

@@danjacob6635 I was just making a comparison, although Arthur is a legend, the similarities of their achievements seemed to be similar, so I made an opinion based comment

[@markadams7046]

@@johnprzybycien1644 I was thinking too that he had to be a significant influence on the legend of King Arthur.

[@tyquanfleming8554]

Aethelstan vs elizabeth

[@reecemesser]

I'm taking the King 😎👑

[@martinzies2874]

Was it called Scotland at the time though? I know King Ecgric of Northumbria conquered a large part if it before becoming overzealous and losing ground to Pictish armies. Any plans for a video on Penda the Pagan or Offa?

[@judsonwall8615]

It was officially the Kingdom of Alba, unofficially the land of the Scots. The ingredients for “Scotland” were already all present by this time. That is, the Picts who lived in northern Great Britain since pre-Roman times were either conquered or were settled amongst gaels from northeast Ireland called Scottis. The Romans at times called Ireland Scotland. This union was beginning to happen before viking raiding began in the late 700s, but the invasions hastened the union of the two peoples into a state with a king in the early 800s. That kingdom became Alba (the Irish word for the island of Great Britain). Or informally, the land of the scots as the scottis were the ruling class. By 1000 CE, English folk were referring to Alba as Scotland. So, it was right around this time that the name was taking hold, I would guess. But I don’t think the scots themselves used Scotland until later in the Middle Ages.

[@cyqry]

Scotland is the "land of Scots" the same way England (or Angleland) was "land of Angles". It was officially Kingdom of Alba at first, Alba being the Scottish term for Scotland, but gradually became Scotland as English language took over.

[@kahmalmason5919]

How much truth is in the show The Last Kingdom? If you have ever seen it?

[@Bredaxe]

English rule went from English to Viking to French to English to German to I'm lost....

[@SteveGouldinSpain]

Amazing that from eating grandad's burnt cakes he went on to plant the seeds of the British Empire.

[@iamvangarnett]

But where does Eivor come in?

[@corndog95]

I'm related to this guy.

[@docgaming8231]

the last kingdom brought me here except for uthred everything is accurate i am amaze

[@alfredthegreatkingofwessex6838]

*heck vikings*

[@Motsham]

Found out just recently that I’m related to this king.

[@anglohistory451]

How so?

[@andreweden9405]

Main takeaway: If your name didn't begin with either an A, E, or an Æ back then, you were nobody!😀🤣

[@leighcollett66]

you mean his half bro as they shared the same dad

[@shaundavenport621]

Narration is a little slow my friend. I'll just listen faster!😁👍

[@Neil-yh8uu]

He was half Briton that's why the wessex church wouldn't accept him He also went further than rome in regards to conquer the whole of Britain and the church didn't like that

[@beastmode39]

Damn it, I knew it! It was Eminem all along!

[@sirgalahad1376]

King Eggbert?! LMAO! 😂

[@babyramses5066]

How could you do Uthred son of Uthred dirty like this and not even mention how he trained Aethelstan to be the best fighter in all of Wessex?! 0/10 historical accuracy Destiny is all

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

He reaallly was a unifier

[@thevenbede767]

Ecgbert would have been pronounced Edgebert. In old english cg was pronounced like j as in jeep. C was pronounced like ch and if g was before an e or an i it was pronounced like y as in yelp.

[@a1evrthg-273]

2022 The dead of the Queens bring me here

[@bethbartlett5692]

There is an obvious gap in History Information between the 4th Century and the 15th Century, in the Western World. Place a focus on this fact (absent of any learned Dark Ages ideas and absolutely no Mainstream Academic influence), must follow the *"Standards of Science and Research"* for the real clarity) and just look at the time - particularly before and leading up to the 15th Century. I'd be curios just what a well studied Historian found doing this. OK ... get going and please fmmlprovide me with a reply and/or resource.

[@MH-ro1lg]

Aethelstan is best stan

[@crywlf9103]

Kernow Bys Vyken

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

Kings and Queens did not reign, or live long in olden times.

[@imranahmad7672]

you haven't covered gog and magog

[@PogueMahone1]

This is real history of an actual place. Gog and Magog are imaginary, mythical places -- like Eden and Atlantis -- and are very flimsily referenced. Gondor/Mordor would be meatier, more entertaining subject than Gog/Magog.

[@reecemesser]

@@PogueMahone1 Atlantis - Eden -Gog & Magog all exist. Every story has a certain truth and the possibilities are endless.

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Æthelstan -- Nobel Stone -- Ädelsten [swe]

[@sorcererberoll4641]

Why couldn’t the saxons or vikings win

[@merlinwizard1000]

14th

[@Andy_Babb]

6:47 I’ve actually also heard some historians theorize he may have been a homosexual. No judgement, nothing wrong with that - ya love who ya love. Just saying that it’s at least _possible_ that’s why he never married.

[@pharmagator]

AEthelstan the Mildly Wonderful

[@gleny9640]

Should have given a spoiler warning for The Last Kingdom fans smh

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

Last kingdom should stop spoiling history.

[@gleny9640]

@@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733 nah history should stop spoiling the last kingdom

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

@@gleny9640 historical fact getting in the way of your soft porn?

[@gleny9640]

@@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733 1: it was a joke 2: it’s just a series. Just cause it hurts your ass , it doesn’t mean it’s bad

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

@@gleny9640 I countered your joke with another joke. It's your ass that's hurting boi

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Isent it time to raid and sack England again?

[@kevinroks4380]

I love these videos hopefully you could shift the origins and go to latin america for their rich folklore! Brazil has so many african decent religions based on spirituality and they have many gods and goddesses!

[@Anne-pv9cb]

Why? White history is already being erased, why are you pushing that?

[@maricarteodoro5907]

Who's here from The Last Kingdom?

[@KamiTenchi]

Do you think they were part of the 12 tribes of Judah?

[@reecemesser]

Could be

[@mariachavez3709]

There was 13 tribes

[@CharlesHapsburg]

No wtf

[@ren82]

So Vikings was a bunch of BS? My whole life is a lie!

[@shawnsingeton9800]

Hivserk is king but was rename after alfred father rangnor sons is immotel in history

[@Flippy_Nips]

Ok but was he gay for that priest tho? #Vikings

[@bethbartlett5692]

Thus, there was never an English King, they ultimately have all been Germanics "?"

[@lookiehere7565]

King E😊 .10/30/2023 🍊☺..... WHY i look like that n u dont KING E 😂 🍊😒😭☺

[@lookiehere7565]

KING E😊

[@adam8822]

Hvitserk ;-)

[@josephbohme7917]

Weak Visual Diocumentary. So hard to understand the actors/chronology here, confusing names and too simillar and bad graphic continuity. Having a portrait up and also naming several names it is a jumble how they relate. Try again with a hub spoke and wheel of a king/wife those sons in a clock position by age and name. And if a second wife a second hub spoke wheel. You have lots of SPACE blank screen use it. The reigions can be inn mapn fort and as a subject becomes highlighted you can refer to his tie to the map. Your decisions here are not using graphics and mapping well. or at all.

[@shelleysprouse5687]

Hahahaha wow. Go make that one yourself if you can’t keep up w/ this one.

[@sweaspurdoddd5466]

Afrocentrists: Ay hol up! Aethelstan wuz black!

[@thepain001]

We wuz kangzzz

[@thegameruprising9787]

HOL UP HOL UL

[@thegameruprising9787]

So you be sayin...

[@SR-lp3gz]

My God was that boring and clustered with bar too many details

[@ashdravencrow6328]

The first king of England was gay.

[@jaythetruthteller5217]

He wasn't Caucasian

[@Haasthimself]

Yeah he was a Anglo Saxon, definetly not Georgian nor Armenian