Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom

Æthelstan was 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 talk, David Woodman draws on his research and recent book to create a 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.

Professor David Woodman is one of today’s leading historians of the early medieval period and is a professor of history at Robinson College, Cambridge University. His recent book The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (2025) was published with Princeton University Press.

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