14 Hisiory of ike 



five years, with varying success, but on the whole favourable to 

 the Northmen, finally resulted in King Ethelred's death, caused by 

 a wound received in battle. His brother Alfred (afterwards sur- 

 named "the Great") succeeded to the vacant throne, a.d. 871. 

 This wise ruler, of whom England has just reason to be proud, was 

 for more than six years unable to cope successfully with his power- 

 ful and treacherous foes — until at the battle of Ethandune, after a 

 long and bloody conflict, the Saxons were completely victorious, [d) 

 During the remaining years of the reign of Alfred, the country of 

 the Saxons enjoyed — with the exception of the invasion by the sea- 

 king Hasteng— comparative tranquility. 



Under Edward, the eldest son of Alfred, who succeeded his 

 father, and reigned for a period of twenty-four years, the Saxons 

 increased in power and military ascendancy throughout the country. 

 This warlike and sagacious jcing devoted his energies to subjugating 

 the Northmen, and consolidating the Saxon rule, by drawing into 

 closer union the different states into which the country was divided. 

 But we now approach that period in Saxon history, the events of 

 which more immediately concern and interest us in the present 

 inquiry. 



Upon the death of Edward, a.d. 925, his eldest survivmg son, 

 Athelstan, ascended the throne of Wessex, at the age of thirty. 

 He had been a favourite of his grandfather Alfred, who directed 

 his studies in the military profession, and early instilled into his 

 mind an absorbing love of his country, and those principles of 

 patriotism which adorned his life. 



Throughout his vigorous and brilliant reign, by. his warlike 

 prowess, no less than his wise administration of the civil affairs 

 of his kingdom, he reflected credit on the teaching of his noble 

 ancestor. 



On the death of Sihtric, the Danish king of Northumbria, who 

 had espoused a sister of the Anglo-Saxon monarch, Athelstan 

 promptly extended his sway, by annexing that important kingdom 

 to his own dominions. 



(rf) Doyle's Chronicle of England, p. 51. 



