In AD 937, Owen I, the King of Strathclyde, joined with Olaf III Guthfrithson, the Viking King of Dublin, and Constantin II, the King of Alba, to fight against King Athelstan who led a force from Wessex and Mercia.
They met and did battle at Brunanburh. From dawn till the dying of the day they fought. Five kings were killed and seven earls were slain. Athelstan was victorious.
Here Athelstan king … and his brother … Edmund atheling, elder of ancient race, slew in the fight, with the edge of their swords, the foe at Brumby! ... No slaughter yet was greater made e'er in this island.
Anglo Saxon Chronicle
The Battle at Brunanburh is said by some historians to have changed the course of English history. For the first time the tribes of Wessex and Mercia joined together to fight. When the battle was won and lost, Athelstan left the 'corpses for the dark black-coated raven, horny-beaked, to enjoy.'
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Listen to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of AD 938.
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