The Kingdom of Wessex

The Kingdom of Wessex

This article relates to The Last Kingdom

Wessex was one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in what is now England. With the reign of Alfred (871-99) and the halting of the Danes, the King of Wessex became the King of England. In the 10th century Alfred's descendents gradually acquired firm control over all England, including the Danelaw (parts of north and east England). 

However, in 1016 the Danish Canute (Knut) took over as ruler (partly due to military strength and partly by invitation). After he died in 1042 the Wessex line was re-established by Edward 'The Confessor' (most famous for building parts of Westminster Cathedral). He died in 1066 and was succeeded by the unfortunate Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon ruler of England, who was killed later the same year by William 'The Conqueror', from Normandy in France.

Filed under Places, Cultures & Identities

This "beyond the book article" relates to The Last Kingdom. It originally ran in March 2005 and has been updated for the January 2006 paperback edition. Go to magazine.