A history professor at Robinson College called for greater recognition of the first King of England in his newly-published book about King Aethelstan. 

David Woodman's book, published on Tuesday (02/09), chronicles King Aethelstan's founding kingship of England. 

In AD927, King Aethelstan united the kings of Wessex, Mercia, Northumberland, and East Anglia/Danelaw under one English monarchy. Most school curricula instead opt to introduce English History from the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066.

Woodman said: "As we approach the anniversaries of Aethelstan’s coronation in 925 and the birth of England itself in 927, I would like his name to become much better known. He really deserves that.

“There has been so much focus on 1066, the moment when England was conquered. It’s about time we thought about its formation, and the person who brought it together in the first place,” he continued.

Through conquering the last Viking kingdom, York, in 927, Aethelstan became the first Anglo-Saxon to rule the entirety of England. He is is also thought to have been the first King to wear a crown, instead of a helmet, for his coronation.

Kingston Upon Thames, where Aethelstan was crowned on 4th September AD925, hosted a series of events this year to commemorate the coronation. The celebrations culminate this week with a memorial service and address by historian Tom Holland, presenter of the popular The Rest is History podcast.

Some campaigners, including Holland and historian Michael Wood, are requesting a new, longer-standing memorial for the King in Westminster or the town of his burial place, Malmesbury. 

They argued that memorials in two years time (2027), to mark the 1,100th anniversary of England's founding in AD927, should feature a memorial to its founding monarch. Alex Burghart MP and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, claimed their goal was to increase public appreciation for the significance of AD927. 

A group of historians also called for Aethelstan’s reign and the birth of England to appear more routinely on the school curriculum. Woodman further stated: “We need to recognise that his legacy, his ways of governing and legislating, continued to shape kingship for generations afterwards.”