England’s greatest monarch – you might think it’s a penalty shoot-out between the two Elizabeths and Victoria. But then there’s the Henrys V and VIII to consider.
Athelstan, however? Really?
Wouldn’t a few people suspect that’s the name of a former Soviet socialist republic?
Indeed not, the Anglo-Saxon’s been declared the winner of a poll run by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook on their podcast, The Rest Is History.
Athelstan, King of Kings: Athelstan reigns supreme
History buffs cast 84,000 votes as the monarchs of different centuries participated in a knockout competition.
Athelstan, the Viking king defeated by Athelstan and unites England for the first-ever time.
Yet, his remarkable achievements are not well-known.
That is until the sovereign beat all other kings and queens of England – including front-runner ‘Good Queen Bess’, Elizabeth I – to be crowned England’s greatest monarch in the podcast poll.
Twitter was used to vote. Athelstan beat Elizabeth I in final, 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent.
Athelstan defeated Queen Victoria, King Edward III, and William the Conqueror to reach the final.
Mr Holland said: ‘I thought it was going to be a walkover for Elizabeth. I’m really surprised. It’s like Emma Raducanu going all the way at the US Open. Unexpected.
‘Athelstan was one of the founding fathers of England. It seems that people assume England exists since infancy.
‘He was a great conqueror, but he was much more than that.’
Athelstan was a ruler from 925 to 939 AD. He unified the country in 927, after combining the kingdoms Mercia and Wessex, and drove the Vikings from Northumbria within the first two years.
Athelstan overcame the combined forces of Dublin and Scotland’s invasion force in 937 at the Battle for Brunanburh.
Sovereign Athelstan beat all other kings and queens of England – including front-runner ‘Good Queen Bess’, Elizabeth I – to be crowned England’s greatest monarch in the podcast poll