Æthelstan's invasion of Scotland facts for kids

In the year 934 AD, Æthelstan, the King of England, led a large army into Scotland. His forces traveled by both land and sea. We don't have any records of big battles happening during this invasion. King Æthelstan returned to England later that same year.

Why Did the Invasion Happen?

Historians aren't completely sure why King Æthelstan decided to invade Scotland. They have a few different ideas.

Possible Reasons for the Invasion

• Removing Opponents: One idea is that Æthelstan wanted to take advantage of the deaths of two important people who might have opposed him.
  • His half-brother, Edwin, died in 933. This might have removed some groups in Wessex who didn't fully support Æthelstan.
  • Guthfrith, a Norse king from Dublin who had ruled parts of Northumbria, died in 934. This could have made the Danes in the north feel less secure. Æthelstan might have seen this as a chance to show his power.
• Dispute Over Land: Another idea comes from an old record called the Annals of Clonmacnoise. It mentions the death of a ruler named Ealdred of Bamburgh in 934. This suggests there might have been a disagreement between Æthelstan and Constantine II, the King of Scotland, over who controlled Ealdred's land.
• Broken Treaty: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an old English history book, briefly mentions the invasion but doesn't explain why. However, a writer from the 1100s, John of Worcester, said that King Constantine had broken a peace agreement with Æthelstan.

The Invasion Journey

The story of Æthelstan's invasion is told briefly in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Later writers like John of Worcester and William of Malmesbury added more details.

Gathering the Army

Æthelstan's army started gathering in Winchester around May 28, 934. They then traveled north, reaching Nottingham by June 7.

Many important leaders joined Æthelstan, including several Welsh kings:

• Hywel Dda from Deheubarth
• Idwal Foel from Gwynedd
• Morgan ap Owain from Gwent
• Tewdwr ap Griffri from Brycheiniog

His group also included many bishops and earls, some of whom were Danes from eastern England.

Marching North

The army likely traveled through places like Beverley and Ripon. By late June or early July, they reached Chester-le-Street. Here, Æthelstan gave generous gifts to the tomb of Cuthbert, a famous saint. These gifts included special church clothes called a stole and a maniple.

Attacks by Land and Sea

The invasion of Scotland happened from both land and sea.

• According to a writer named Simeon of Durham, Æthelstan's land forces attacked and damaged areas as far north as Dunnottar and Fortriu in northern Scotland.
• His fleet (ships) raided Caithness. This likely meant a much larger area, including Sutherland, which was probably part of the Norse kingdom of Orkney at the time.

One of the Scottish leaders, Owain, was defeated. It's thought that King Constantine's power didn't reach this far north. So, Æthelstan's attacks were probably aimed at Constantine's allies, and they were mostly about taking goods and showing strength.

The Outcome

The Annals of Clonmacnoise say that "the Scottish men compelled [Æthelstan] to return without any great victory." This means the Scots made him leave without a big win. However, another writer, Henry of Huntingdon, claimed that the English faced no resistance at all.

It's possible that the invasion ended with a peaceful agreement. John of Worcester wrote that a son of King Constantine was given to Æthelstan as a hostage. He also said that Constantine himself went back south with the English king.

What Happened After the Invasion?

No major battles are recorded during this campaign, and old records don't clearly state the final result. However, by September 934, Æthelstan was back in southern England.

Constantine's Acknowledgment

While in Buckingham, King Constantine signed a document as a subregulus. This term means a king who recognizes another king's higher authority. So, Constantine acknowledged Æthelstan as his overlord.

The next year, in 935, Constantine visited Æthelstan's court again in Cirencester. He signed another document as a witness, along with Owain of Strathclyde and the Welsh kings Hywel Dda, Idwal Foel, and Morgan ap Owain.

Later that year, Owain of Strathclyde and the Welsh kings were again at Æthelstan's court, but Constantine was not. Less than two years later, Constantine would return to England, but this time as Æthelstan's enemy at the famous Battle of Brunanburh.

See Also

• Æthelstan
• Constantine II of Scotland
• Battle of Brunanburh