The forgotten fight
After witnessing his unchallenged invasion of Scotland, Athelstan’s enemies realised that the only way they stood a chance at defeating him was to unite
ALAMY X3
Half a century after the victory of the men of Wessex and Mercia over an alliance of Scots, Strathclyde Britons and Norsemen from Ireland at Brunanburh, men were still calling it ‘the Great Battle’. Indeed, Brunanburh has been described as one of the most defining battles in the history of Britain. Its effects were wide-ranging. It certainly helped the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan of Wessex consolidate his hold over his kingdom and create a more unified England. But it’s also been argued that the strong resistance put up by Athelstan’s enemies prevented the whole of Britain from being forcefully united into one imperial power. Yet despite all this, few today have heard of Brunanburh and even fewer think they know where it was fought.