King Athelstan (924–939) is one of history’s forgotten monarchs. A grandson of Alfred the Great, his achievements outshine many of our most famous kings—he began his reign as king of the Anglo-Saxons in the south of England, and ended as the self-styled king of all Britain. During Athelstan’s reign there was a tremendous power struggle between the English, Scots, Norse, Irish, Danes, and Welsh, culminating in 937 in a battle the importance of which was not equalled until Hastings—the lost battle of Brunanburh.