Anglo-Saxon+Rulers

__ Aelle __ · He is an Anglo Saxon ruler credited with the foundation of Sussex or South Saxons. · He made war on the Britons near Selsey Bill · He and his son Cissa massacred Anderida · He is the first king to be recognized as an overlord of all the English peoples of Humber. · He reigned from 477 to 514 · With lack of evidence, it is unsure if he ever existed. 

__Alfred the Great__
 * Ruled from 871-900
 * King of Wessex at a time of constant Viking attack
 * Made peace with the Vikings with a partition through England called the "Danelaw" in 886
 * Known for:
 * Creating fortifications around his kingdom
 * Improving kingdom security
 * Promoting education and the arts
 * Called the "Father of the English Navy"
 * Condsidered a scholar and translated Latin Books
 * Only English monarch to carry "the Great" with his name

__Edward 'The Elder'__
 * Ruled from 900-924
 * He is best known for his re-conquest of all of England south of the Humber after the Viking invasions of the previous century.
 * Edward’s path to fame was not easy; there were many rebellions he had to overcome and conquer
 * The kings of Strathclyde and the Scots submitted to Edward in 921.
 * He established an administration for England
 * He had a son named Athelstan who took control when he died in 924.
 * He was married three times and had 14 children

__Athelstan __ · Ruled from 925-39 · Athelstan's law codes strengthened royal control over his large kingdom. Buying and selling encouraged town life. · Overseas, Athelstan built alliances by marrying four of his half-sisters to various rulers in western Europe. · Known as "King of the English, elevated by the right hand of the Almighty ... to the Throne of the whole Kingdom of Britain"

__Edmund l__
 * Ruled from 939-946
 * Half-brother of Athelstan, who died without an immediate heir
 * He successfully supressed rebellions by the Mercian Danes.
 * He was murdered at a feast in his hall at 25.
 * Rule passed to his brother Eadred

__Eadred__
 * Ruled from 946-955
 * King of Wessex
 * Went North to ravage territories that were taken over by Eric Bloodaxe, a Norse Viking who established himself as king of Northumbria at York
 * Attacked by Bloodaxe when he moved back south
 * Viewed as a bloodthirsty viking
 * Constantly oppressed by sickness
 * Devoted his life to God

__Edgar __
 * king in Mercia and Danelaw from 957
 * He was a firm and capable ruler whose power was acknowledged by other rulers in Brtain, as well as by Welsch and Scottish kings
 * Edgar was the patron of a great monastic revival which owed much to his association with Archbishop Dunstan.

__Ethelred The Unready (Ethelred II)__
 * Ruled from 978-1016
 * He succeeded his half brother, Edward the Martyr, to the throne
 * Began ruling at age ten
 * Long, inneffective reign characterized by poor decisions and suspicion
 * Abandoned his throne in 1013 on account of relentless Viking invasions
 * Fled to Normandy
 * Resumed reign in 1014, before dying in 1016

__Sweyn __ · Ruled from 1013 – 1014 · He was the son of a Danish king · Began conquering territory in England in 1003, effectively devastating much of southern and midland England. · The English nobility recognized Sweyn as king in 1013 because they didn’t like their current king, Ethelred ‘The Unready’ · Sweyn soon died in 1014, but his son Canute the Great returned and reclaimed control of England media type="youtube" key="LXcfJVwMyS8?fs=1" height="385" width="480"