Campaigners are advocating for a bank holiday to honor England’s overlooked monarch, King Aethelstan. This year commemorates 1,100 years since he was crowned the first king of England, an achievement that marked the unification of the nation in 927 AD.
Despite his pivotal role in shaping English history, King Aethelstan’s legacy has largely faded from public consciousness. The majority of school curricula tend to begin their historical narratives with the Norman Conquest in 1066, sidelining earlier figures like Aethelstan.
Now, historians and members of parliament are joining forces to ensure that Aethelstan receives the recognition he deserves. They propose that a new bank holiday be established to celebrate his contributions to the formation of England.
King Aethelstan was instrumental in merging several independent kingdoms into a unified England. His reign was also marked by fostering important relationships with mainland Europe, inviting scholars from across the continent to enrich English culture.
The official unification of England took place at Eamont Bridge in Cumbria on July 12, 927. As the anniversary approaches, the call to remember Aethelstan grows stronger, highlighting the enduring impact of his leadership on the nation’s history.
England was officially unified at Eamont Bridge in Cumbria on July 12 927.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, said: ‘I certainly think the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England absolutely deserves a bank holiday.
Davey further said how important it is that the mainstream debate reclaims patriotism around English history.
A portrait of King Aethelstan who first unified England in 927AD, and this year marks 1,100 years since he was crowned the first king of England
King Aethelstan set trends too as the first English monarch to wear a crown, a tradition that continues today.
Alex Burghart MP, who is backing historian calls for a memorial, said Aethelstan was ‘right at the top’ of English monarchs.
‘Aethalstan is this combination of an amazing administrator and a great warrior and he manages to cement the legacy of his grandfather Alfred by creating a United Kingdom of English speakers,’ said Burghart
Born around the year 894AD, he was next in this line of kings and continued the family tradition of expanding the kingdom.
He was the grandson of perhaps the most famous king of the early medieval period, Alfred the Great.
Alfred was known for his battles with the Vikings, and for decisively defeating the Danes in the 9th Century.
Within three years of coming to the throne, Aethelstan had conquered Danish king Sihtric, who ruled the Viking York, and therefore took the title Rex Anglorum, meaning King of the English, creating the first centralised government.
He reversed the decline in the church, managed to persuade the Welsh and Scottish kings to acknowledge his authority and crushed a major Viking uprising in 937AD at the Battle of Brunanburh.
The Government have said it has no intention of introducing a bank holiday in 2027 to mark the birth of England
Aethelstan was the grandson of perhaps the most famous king of the early medieval period, Alfred the Great
At the battle, he defeated an alliance of Vikings, Scots and Strathclyde Welsh, who were attempting to challenge his rule of England.
Aethelstan brought a cosmopolitan flair to his new kingdom.
The newly formed kingdom of England was an outward-looking society with a coherent foreign policy and there was a lot of cultural variety in the area we call England today.
Sir Ed said he had campaigned for Anglo Saxon history to remain in the A-level school curriculum when the Government was considering removing it.
‘In my view, the Anglo Saxon legacy lives on, and in many ways, the history of Norman England was borrowed from what Anglo Saxon kings had embedded,’ he added.
However, the Government stated that it has no intention of introducing a bank holiday in 2027 to mark the birth of England, reports the Telegraph.
Kate Dinn from the Department of Business and Trade explained that while there are many important moments in history they would like to recognise with a bank holiday, it is not possible to commemorate them all.
She added jokingly that she hopes Aethelstan will not return like a ghost of Christmas past after confirming there are no plans to hold a bank holiday in his honour.
