Wessex traces the rise of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom that eventually supplied the rulers of a united England. It follows the growth of West Saxon power, the crisis created by Viking invasions and the resistance led by Alfred the Great, then continues through Edward the Elder and Athelstan as territory was recovered and expanded. The book examines kingship, warfare, law and Church reform during the transformation from regional kingdom to English monarchy.
The kingdom’s success depended on more than Alfred’s famous victories. Fortified burhs, military service, law, coinage and cooperation with Mercian leaders helped create a structure capable of surviving repeated attacks and expanding afterward. The book therefore connects battlefield recovery with the institutional changes that allowed later West Saxon kings to claim authority over a much larger England.
Saul David
3 books
Adrian Goldsworthy
12 books
Alison Weir
35 books
Peter Ackroyd
1 book