Marta Enrique

A journalist during his lifetime, the first king of England became famous throughout Europe. But over the centuries, history pushed him to the margins. For a king who achieved so much, Athelstan remains a surprisingly mysterious figure. It is now 1,100 years since he was crowned as England's first king, but he is still surprisingly absent from the history books. Although Athelstan himself is largely forgotten, his legacy is still strong. He not only united several scattered kingdoms and created England, but also created deep and complex relations with the European continent. Within the country he ruled over a diverse kingdom of people with different cultures and identities. He was also a style pioneer: he was the first English monarch to wear a crown. A tradition that continues to this day. Read more at the link below Getty/ Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge/ BBC