HIST21141: From Catastrophe to Crusade

Week 3: England in the Tenth Century

King Æthelstan, C.927-939, as depicted in the 14 th century

Genealogical Chronicle of the English Kings
Royal MS 14 B VI
Housekeeping…
Assessment
1. Two source commentaries (750 words each) (20%)

- Due date Friday 26th October (Week 5)

2. Essay (2500 words) (30%) For more details, see your

handbook.
- Due date Friday 14th December (Week 12)
(The new one is now on
3. Two hour exam (50%) Blackboard)

- Exact date TBD (This will be in January)

My contact details:
-Isaac.Boothroyd@Manchester.ac.uk
-Office hours: Weeks 4, 5
 Key questions:

- How was the West Saxon Kingdom

organised?

- How did it run in practice?

- How far can we detect King Alfred’s

influence in how it was run?
 How was it organised?

Coin issued by Æthelstan following his capture of York

in 927.
Map of the British Isles, C.878 The inscription reads “Æthelstan, Rex Totius Britanniae”
Alfred’s sons and Grandsons would eventually capture – “Æthelstan, King of all Britain”
the whole of the Danelaw
How did it run in practice?

Edgar the Peaceable, C.959-75, enjoyed a relatively

stable and peaceful reign.
Cotton Vespasian A. viii, f. 2v
Alfred’s influence?

Statue of Alfred the

Great by Hamo
Thornycroft, unveiled at
Winchester, 1901