Athelstan - The King Who United England & Defeated the Vikings Documentary

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[@kathrynsceneay9555]

I've been fascinated by Athelstan and Anglo Saxon England ever since I read Michael Wood's 'İn Search of the Dark Ages'. İncredible work as always - I also believe Athelstan was the first king to unite England. Underrated and poorly known due to records available. Thankyou from Melbourne, Australia ❤

[@michaelmccomb2594]

Wood has a biography of Æthelstan that he seems to have been working on for a long time. I suspect he will publish it next year in celebration of 1100 years since his coronation in 925.

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

@@michaelmccomb2594 I hope so.

[@judyhouy5578]

⁠@@michaelmccomb2594this is an excellent video. What the historians always overlook about the Viking age and would make for a good video would be how the Irish were able to fight off the Vikings. The Vikings were barely able to sustain three trading ports in Dublin, Cork, and Waterford. They tried several times to conquer Ireland and were repeatedly stomped by the Irish. They held half of England throughout the Viking Age. Then Canute took full control of England. When Canute took England, Brian Boru destroyed his fellow Vikings at Clontarf, Ireland. The Irish asked the Saxons, what’s the problem? The Vikings are cream puffs, why so much trouble with them?

[@michaelmccomb2594]

@@judyhouy5578 England was obviously wealthier with much better trading links to the continent, so was more attractive to Viking invaders. And some of the Viking settlements in Ireland did last until around 12th century, around the time that England began to invade Ireland.

[@mrmagic2212]

Please do more Anglo Saxon and Viking videos I love them

[@LoneWulf278]

I love this period of English history. ❤ This channel is so awesome.

[@schniggs2011]

Unbelievably great! I am a devotee of these wonderful pieces - so well researched and presented - and I could listen to Sir Gareth’s voice all evening.

[@TheMargarita1948]

How do you know these documentaries are well researched. I don’t see any peer-reviewed references.

[@TranscendentalMiner]

Great video! It’s nice seeing a documentary on the king who got me interested in history! Athelstan will always be one of my favorite historical figures!

[@SirJaymesDAudelée]

Thank you for this in-depth documentary about an English king whose full story is little known in popular culture, and yet is probably one of the most important.

[@msprissmiss]

I dunno if it's the most important, sounds like he was a self proclaimed king rather than actually one and the country was nowhere near together enough to userp. All that comes later.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Athelstan the GLorious! Yes! Been waiting For this! Thanks For this Guys! You're the Best ❤❤❤❤

[@AlbertStandish]

Thank you for for that history lesson on the first king’ it actually raised the hair on the back of my neck listening to this.

[@alyssagrube452]

I would love to see videos on Alexander the Great, Constantine the Great, and Cleopatra

[@abasudoh7459]

7:36 The best source for his life is obviously The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell where we learnt that he spent his early years in the household of Uhtred of Babbenburg😅😅😅

[@michaelcoward1902]

That's not a source...sources are what the Fabulous Mr Cornwell referred to when he created that wonderful series.

[@SirJaymesDAudelée]

Oh dear

[@user-xu3wo1sf8b]

American point of view, Angle-Land began w/ the Norman Conquest and the forced speaking and writing of "Old French" language...😅 (Sorry. A sick joke. Vague reference to ancient competition between French and English...😮

[@weemama]

I believe the laughing emoticons are a clue.​@@michaelcoward1902

[@DiabolicalAngel]

Always a treat when these come out. Thank you for all you do!❤

[@RainBird88x]

Athelstan should be more well known in England.

[@outlawJosieFox]

Due to the Norman conquest, I reckon. That he is not well known I mean .

[@nobblkpraetorian5623]

@@outlawJosieFox Also because he was overshadowed by his grandfather Alfred.

[@JayDee-iy5be]

I was taught about him and this period of history when I was at school. Younger members of my family were not.

[@josefstrauss9017]

Thanks for the video, I certainly will enjoy it ✌🏼

[@PKAClips]

Let’s go, been waiting for this one

[@niohronoake9258]

It's such a shame that such a huge part of English history has been largely forgotten about due to lack of records.

[@mondlingwenya]

The dissolution of monasteries was terrible

[@michaelcoward1902]

it's actually been destroyed, as Mondlingwenya points out the dissolution of the monestaries did for a lot of it, but also when the Normans took over in 1066 they systematically destroyed as much of the Saxon lore as they could find.

[@BillCody931]

Athelstan, the first King of England has been forgotten due to the lack of records

[@jefffoster7105]

No computers brother 😂😂😂.

[@teamezyw6009]

@@jefffoster7105😑

[@nathanrainey3821]

@@BillCody931 has been forgotten he types in the comments on a video made about him, what ?

[@jackedgorilla9799]

Not by the English

[@jefffoster7105]

@@jackedgorilla9799 😄 🤣.

[@dianneatfeld687]

Why don’t they teach this history in our British schools? The Saxon people created England.

[@zoch9797]

It's best for the global elite/WEF that the English don't think of themselves as a people coming from a common ancestor.

[@jonncockrell3606]

The "Vikings" had a major role. But the soul of England was Anglo-Saxon without doubt.

[@teamezyw6009]

They do teach the basics of the vikings why England got formed and how majority of people who inhabit England are Anglo Saxons in decent which is two separate Germanic tribes which came over after the romans left 👍 and yes there was people before the romans and Anglo and Saxon tribes came but they all changed to their native language,married them and took on their culture

[@Celadonfae]

The Saxons only make up a very small % (less than 15) of English ethnicity, their genealogical impact is far less than that of the native Britons. In truth, the Celts built Britain and the Saxons and Normans simply pillaged its wealth.

[@teamezyw6009]

@@Celadonfae ethnicity and culture to different things though they changed the whole culture and majority married into family’s that came from angles or Saxon and majority learned and spoke their language

[@VaderPopsVicodin10]

I don't know how I missed this one.. right up my alley! I love this channel!

[@juliekemp419]

Hooray Athelstan! Top early King of England. Well done sir! An Australian fan.

[@jenniferhammond632]

It appears that Athelstan should be called “The Great” as well.

[@alexbowman7582]

England was forged by a national threat of Viking invasion uniting the various kingdoms. Similarly Germany first united against the Roman invasion, China perhaps united against the Mongols giving a common enemy (who killed tens of millions) which if wasn’t present may have led to several smaller nations and perhaps the United States would have become a few smaller countries if it wasn’t for the threat of the English, the Native Americans and Mexico.

[@SirAdamMeek]

Taking your content, along with Digging Britain's, I'm putting together all of this History along side my Ancestory and finding this quite educational! It finally Clicked! Thank you!

[@anonfaceless6088]

Always found Athelstan so fascinating. Our first true king yet we know so little about him

[@aviral.utkarsh]

request you to kindly do a full video on House of York and House of Lancaster from during the 100 years war

[@marylut6077]

If I learned this in high school, I had forgotten it.

[@matildewosnjuk7508]

Thank you. This work made me travel back on time

[@matthewwilson5548]

Great detailed info on a otherwise little know but important founder of the Modren England.

[@davescott7680]

Athel meaning nobel now makes so mucn sense why everyone is called bloody Athel-something-un-other

[@mzeewatk846]

But Alfred the Great demonstrated his commonality with the common man when he burned the muffins.

[@tah2606]

😂leaving it to a man to take something out of the oven

[@dwaynefoley1020]

He was talking to Eivor

[@tanasescuadren2584]

The Roman Empire also made another strategic withdrawal besides that in 410 from Britain, in 271 from Dacia if i remember correctly,during the time of Aurelian.

[@Chadswonderfulwalkingtours]

Listening from Mackinac Island Michigan

[@holly52ful]

Oh yes been there. Nice place but Arctic cold in winter!!

[@Chadswonderfulwalkingtours]

@@holly52ful It can be

[@philipstevenson8381]

Do one on Benedict Arnold

[@clf8668]

Is he related to you too

[@anthonygait8500]

The rapper

[@lfgifu296]

omgg this is great!! I love Anglo Saxon History so this is as good as it gets

[@aarondemiri486]

Love anglo saxon history.

[@brewberry3894]

There were people living in Britain before the saxons. There were people living in Britain before the Romans.

[@turdferguson12]

Your point?

[@simoncampagnoli3146]

Of course there were, but the point here is that certain people were instrumental in unifying England under one leader. It’s not denouncing the original people or tribes of England. 🙂

[@thecrimsondragon9744]

‘Athelstan’ - an initial glance at the thumbnail made me think of the central Asian ‘stan’ countries lol

[@justinfuller8803]

Pity that Netflix could not portray this ruler more honestly as they had him kissing and groping one of his advisors!

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

I can't bring myself to even watch that last feature, it's such a joke.

[@kendrickcurriculum]

What is it called? I gotta check that out!

[@holly52ful]

Yes the gay mirage has been painted on so many in times past!!

[@lynnehamer239]

Great, thanks 👏👏👏👏

[@high_on_nightmares]

Post roman occupation-pre norman conquest Britain is such an amazing study. An absolutely fascinating period. I only wish we knew more about it. Sadly, the dissolution of the monasteries erased much of that knowledge. Thanks alot Henry VIII 😞

[@mohamedmm1967]

Good

[@Aidan-hc3bu]

Please continue uploading on Spotify

[@debkrummreich3883]

How about some of the great warriors who help these kingdoms. That would be nice to see also.Something about even the great viking kings also would be nice. Just came across this channel great stuff.

[@exist2rebel152]

Destiny is all!

[@MikePhilbin1966]

As far as Ancient England goes, I'm more a fan of the pre-Beaker People era. We were definitely an industrious Atlantic-European race, not a Central European import.

[@aelfweard9242]

yeayy, I get a mention.

[@1985TIMEMACHINE]

Could you please do one on Balto the Sled Dog?

[@TheAdrian229]

Balto is cool but he is not even close to being as cool as Togo. Probably best sled dog in history

[@RichyDH]

some "evidence" for the battle points to Bromborough on The Wirral

[@Trebor74]

Athelstan was described as king of the English. It wasn't till some time later that kongs described themselves as king of England.

[@garethdarke5918]

Cornwall was never part of the Kingdom of Wessex. It was a Kingdom in its own right.

[@kevinmcnamara4912]

Great video

[@Disturbinglywick993]

Yes finally

[@michibosire5000]

RIP Athelstan. You would've hated Gareth Southgate 🙏🙏

[@gibbo822]

So true way too defensive no offense we would have been doomed

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

Nah you just have an overflated opinion of how good you are but that's why you always get beat. You were punching above your weight your team played crap and almost won lol till you played a real team that goal was glorious and the celebrations were world wide 👏

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

You got there by the worst penalty in the history of the Euros so karma balanced out

[@gibbo822]

@@StuartAnderson-xl4bo the England squad is full of CL winners and league winners get rind of kane and arsenal's lit we have a chance your talking nonsense when your team struggle to qualify every damn tournament

[@gibbo822]

@@StuartAnderson-xl4bo you didn't get there though so what's your point?

[@sammiemac267]

Hes been forgotten because we don't teach British history enough in schools

[@etiennenobel5028]

Great stuff

[@lindageorge8209]

So how long does it take to develop a unique language, such as welsh?

[@elhajjmahashalakabash6459]

William the Conqueror please

[@beligerentlondoner]

It's the old issue of there only being around 50 people in the country knowing how to read and write 😂.

[@PierreBeijing]

Good video

[@philipstevenson8381]

Do one on Martha Washington

[@thomassullivan6016]

And here we are in the year 2024 with Britain on the cusp of becoming a politically correct Muslim nation 🤔

[@amarali4121]

Just ain't true though is it pal so less off that racism

[@dwaynefoley1020]

English ancestors would be disgusted at how the country has let in those barbaric invaders

[@carolynandrade2648]

Very Good

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

Nearly scotland as well 😅😅 sent him homewards ta think again. Fact remains it was a Scotsman that became the first king of Britian James VI of Scotland James I of England and Wales

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

Only unconquered country in these Isles Scotland often invaded never taken.

[@JayDee-iy5be]

I'm worried this is not taught or taught well enough in English schools. My nieces have zero knowledge or idea about this period of history beyond what I've taught them.

[@jamesdownes3284]

Greatest king

[@BunyipToldMe]

ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿......FUCK YEAH!

[@goochmcduck4285]

English history is amazing. The good ,the bad, it’s got everything. Even birthed a new nation. America

[@user-xu3wo1sf8b]

England in two World Wars help defend the world from horror sp monstrous in is better unwritten.

[@stephenlynch6389]

According to netflix he only conquered england because he was conflicted about being gay 😂😂😂

[@steven20653]

Hahaha what?

[@davidbeeson9993]

What a woke Athelstan😮 leave it to the revisionist Netflix, trash programming.

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

@@davidbeeson9993 Agreed.

[@ImmortalStrike-ed5dc]

Viva Espana joder

[@Cem.Kahraman]

He wouldn‘t have survived without Uhtred and never became King of England

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

LOL!

[@DarkKing009]

Athelstan King of the Anglo-Saxons

[@Hlnodovik]

Æðelstán rex totius Britanniae

[@shelleyphilcox4743]

Alfred was King of the Saxons...Aethelstan was King of England from 927 after he conquered the Vikings/Danes in York. There were then a couple of decades of tooing and freeing until the Northumbrians finally kicked them out and joined the party...and was consolidated under Eadwig. All was tickety boo until Sweyn Forkbeard showed up and there were a few sticky moments for Aethelred and Edmund and then up pops Cnut...but then Emma of Normandy, Aethelreds 2nd wife married him and then her sons from both Aethelred and Cnut had a crack at ruling...the Edward the Confessor died and up comes Harold Godwinsson and William the Conqueror in dispute over the succession. Well played Emma of Normandy...as William was also your great-nephew, although he conquered Englabd after her death.

[@UncleWigz]

King henry 8th didnt help history as he flattened england

[@sifrog8528]

UTHREEEEEEEED OF BEBANBUUUUUUUUUUURG

[@tml721]

Was he or wasn't he the first king ??!

[@tah2606]

Not of an United England.

[@dwaynefoley1020]

Yes he was

[@user-gd3xy2vl1s]

Rex Totius Britanniae

[@aix.914]

Pensaban que iban a ganar 💀

[@murmursmeglos]

Football? I doubt it, this is a UK channel, so more likely it's to lift spirits after a tournament final. Hardly anyone in the country expected to win.

[@dwaynefoley1020]

So did the idiots waving that banner you have in your profile pic 😂

[@twanabaiz9516]

Great English king stop mentioning unusual names

[@mark4asp]

This political correctness is dumb and infuriating. The Anglo-Saxons called them Vikings when they were raiding. But if they were trading they were called Danes.

[@kendrickcurriculum]

It's not political correctness: it's a misnomer to call them Vikings or to lump several cultural groups into 'Danes'.

[@apm9151]

First King of England?! That’s still debatable! 😯

[@lisalking2476]

I'd be interested in why 😊

[@nathanrainey3821]

But it’s clearly not debatable we know exactly which dynasty and rulers United England into one kingdom and then ruled it as one king one country one god

[@darbyohara]

Wasn’t his father Edward the first king of England?

[@nathanrainey3821]

@@darbyohara neither Alfred or Edward ruled with true authority and power over the other kingdoms Alfred laid the groundwork Edward continued it, Athelstan completed it and was the first to rule truly as the king of a untied England

[@mondlingwenya]

It's not debatable Aethalstan is the first King of the English

[@thehum1000]

Knut was the begining, but who led before him, someone would have.leaders would have controlled britain to build stonehenge

[@francoluissotomayor3123]

First lad

[@JonathanBresnihan77]

WILLIAM THE CONQUERER was the first King of England!

[@UsmanSiddiq1]

Alfered didn't do shit cuz everything was done by Uhtred of Bebbanburg !

[@GeminiLesbian]

😖 The narrator is too loud.

[@dwaynefoley1020]

😖Your comment is too stupid

[@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart]

While a unifier, he was also pretty treacherous and brutal... a true man of his times.

[@sushanart]

When I hear his name I think of Athelstan in the Anthony Andrews' movie Ivanhoe. 😇🩷🙏🙌