Æthelstan of Kent facts for kids

Æthelstan was a king who ruled Kent from 839 to 851. He was the son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. Æthelstan ruled Kent under his father's authority.

Becoming King of Kent

When his father, King Æthelwulf, became the King of the West Saxons in 839, Æthelstan was given the important job of ruling Kent. He also ruled over Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Old records like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle call him a king. Another old book, Æthelweard's Chronicle, even calls him "King of the Dwellers in Kent, of the East Saxons, of the South Saxons and of Surrey." He signed many of his father's official papers as king during the 840s.

Fighting the Vikings

In 851, Æthelstan and a leader named Ealdorman Ealhere achieved a big victory. They defeated a Viking fleet and army near Sandwich in Kent. This battle is known as the first naval battle ever recorded in English history! It was a very important moment for England.

What Happened to Æthelstan?

After 851, Æthelstan is not mentioned in historical records anymore. Historians believe he likely died before his father, King Æthelwulf, traveled to Rome in 855. This is because Æthelstan was not included in the plans for who would govern the kingdom while his father was away. Also, in 853, Ealhhere, the leader who fought alongside Æthelstan, died in a battle against the Vikings. Since Æthelstan isn't mentioned in that battle, he was probably already gone by then.

A Possible Burial Site

During excavations at the Old Minster, Winchester, archaeologists found a burial from the mid-ninth century. It contained the body of a young man, aged 25 to 35. The way he was buried, with a special headdress and in an important part of the church, suggests he was a royal person. Many historians believe this could be the burial place of Æthelstan.

See Also

• List of monarchs of Kent
• House of Wessex