Saxon kings

Some of Saxon kings whose reign was of historical and social importance are:

Offa (reign:757-796) , King of Mercia, was the first ruler to be called "king of the English". He seized the power after a civil war, and established supremacy over many lesser kings and consolidated his position by marrying his daughters to the kings of Wessex and Northumbria.The English penny was introduced during Offa's reign.

Alfred, the Great, (reign:871-899) is the next and probably the most important Anglo-Saxon king. He was the 5th son of Aethelwulf, king of the Wessex.He reigned from 871 to 899.When he was younger, Danes started attacking England.In 867,Danes established their own kingdom in southern Northumbria and conquered East Anglia and Mercia.In 870, they attacked Wessex, but Alfred defeated them in 878 at the Battle of Edington. He was not only a great king, but a great literary figure.He took part in translating some necessary books with historical, philosophical, and religious matters from Latin into Anglo-Saxon.Alfred was a patron to "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", and it is said that some parts of this chronicle are written by himself.He died in 890, but his successors could subdue other Saxon kings and unified England.

Ethelred, the Unready, (reign:979-1013 and 1014-1016) was one of the worst kings of England.During his reign, Danes started invading England,again.Ethelred used diplomatic ways to defended the country.He allied with the duke of Normandy in 991, and tried to buy off renewed attacks with a tax called the "Danegeld".In 1013, he fled to Normandy but came back in 1014, and died in 1016.

Ethelred's son, Edmund Ironside,fought bravely against Danes, but he was defeated by Cnut(Canute) .He was the last Saxon king before Danes.His reign was from April 1016 to November 1016 and died in 1016.