ALFRED.
Edward, the oldest surviving son of Alfred, and deno minated the Elder, as being the first monarch of that name that sat upon the English throne, inherited the kingdom and military genius of his father. his reign, from beginning to end, was a continued but a successful struggle against the Northumbrians and Danes. lie had scarcely taken possession of his father's sceptre, when his claim to the throne was disputed by his cousin Ethelwald, who was the son of king Ethelbert, the el der brother of Alfred. Ethelwald having brought over the Northumbrians and Danes to his pasty, made au ir ruption into Gloucester, Oxford, and Wilts, where they exercised their usual ravages, and escaped with their booty before the king could assemble an army to oppose them. Edward, however, overran and ravaged East Anglia in revenge; but the Kentish men, when their sovereign retired, remained behind, in expectation of more plunder, and took up their quarters at Bury. Here they by the rebels; but made such a vigo rous resistance, that Ethelwald fell in the action. Though freed from a dangerous rival, his exertions were still demanded to compel the subjection of the Northum brians, who, assisted by the Danes of Mercia, committed their devastations in the very heart of the kingdom. He routed them at Tetenhall, Temsford, and and, at length, reduced them under his dominion. He im proved the defence of his kingdom, by fortifying the principal cities. He forced the East Angles to swear allegiance to him ; expelled the two rival princes of Northumberland ; subjected several tribes of the Britons; and even obliged the Scots to give him marks of submis sion. It is said that he derived considerable assistance, in his enterpr•zes, from the activity and prudence of his sister Ethelfleda, who was widow of the Earl of Mercia, and who retained the government of that province after her husband's death. This princess was distinguished for her masculine endowments, and disdaining the occu pations of domestic life, employed her talents in direct ing the affairs of the cabinet or the field. She died be fore her brother, who, during the remainder of his life, held the government of Mercia. Edward reigned 24 years, and Athelstan, his natural son, succeeded to the throne.
The unsettled state of the kingdom required the ma ture age and abilities of Athelstan, in preference to the youth and inexperience of the legitimate children of Ed ward ; and lie found little difficulty in maintaining his pre tensions. Some discontents attended his accession ; but his authority was soon so firmly established, as to allow him to direct his attention to more distant objects. He marched into Northumberland, to provide against the future insurrections of the Danes. He found them im patient of the English yoke; but, in order the better to secure their allegiance, he conferred upon Sithric, a Danish nobleman, the title of king, and gave him his sister Editha in marriage. On the death of Sithric, how ever, which happened soon after, his two sons Anlaf and Godfrid, by a former wife, seized upon the sovereignty ; but Athelstan soon compelled them to fly, when the for mer took shelter in Ireland, and the other found protec tion from Constantine king of Scotland. Constantine thus incurred the displeasure of the English monarch, who demanded of him to surrender up his guest. Constan tine at first consented ; but, detesting such treachery, assisted Godfrid to escape, who turned pirate, and soon after died. Athelstan, however, resenting this conduct, penetrated into Scotland, and exacted the most humble submission from the Scotish king. But no sooner had the English retired, than Constantine entered into a con federacy with Anlaf, and sonic of the Welsh princes, and made an irruption into England. Athelstan met them at Brunsburg, where they were overthrown with terrible slaughter, and Constantine and Anlaf with difficulty es caped. This monarch passed the remainder of his days in peace, employing his talents in the internal regulation of his kingdom. The encouragement which he gave to commerce, evinced a mind superior to the prejudices of that age; and he enacted a law, that a merchant, who had made three long sea voyages on his own account, should be raised to the rank of a thane or gentleman. He died at Gloucester, in the 16th year of his reign, leav ing the kingdom to his brother Edmund.