A celebration of the 1100th anniversary of England’s birth under King Æthelstan in 927
The late fourteenth-/early fifteenth-century tomb of King Æthelstan in Malmesbury Abbey.
Image by Arpingstone - Public Domain
In 927 King Æthelstan brought Northumbria within his dominion and thus created the ‘kingdom of the English’ for the first time. Where previously there had been numerous independent kingdoms—places such as Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria and East Anglia—now there was notionally one ‘England’. ‘England’s 1100th’ comprises a group of people aiming to achieve recognition of England’s 1100th birthday and Æthelstan’s achievements. This website is designed to provide a brief history of what happened in 927 (a date that has too often been overlooked), details of celebrations due to take place in 2027, and also useful resources.
What is England’s 1100th?
Was Æthelstan England’s greatest monarch? Listen here to The Rest is History’s episode by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook about this often-overlooked king.
A video introduction to King Æthelstan and the birth of England:
Who is behind England’s 1100th?
England’s 1100th comprises:
Alex Burghart MP
Tom Holland, historian
Simon Keynes, historian
Michael Wood, historian
David Woodman, historian
… and many others across the country who are organising their own tributes and celebrations
Contact
We’re a team of volunteers but will aim to get back to you as soon as we can - do reach out!