英国第一位国王，为什么没人记得？

America's founding father is Washington, Germany recognizes Bismarck, but England's founding king is almost unknown in his own country.

In a recent poll to choose Britain's best monarch, his name wasn't even on the candidate list.

The attention went to William the Conqueror and his own grandfather, Alfred the Great.

His name is Æthelstan, a tenth-century Anglo-Saxon king and the first king in English history.

In 927, he led his army north to York and conquered the last remaining Viking kingdom in Britain.

In the same year, the leaders of Britain's kingdoms acknowledged him as 'King of the English' at a meeting.

Later historians regard this meeting as the starting point of England as a nation.

By 2027, this event will be exactly 1,100 years old.

Derek Hilling, founder of the 'Birth of England Project,' is already preparing commemorative sets, coins, and stamps.

He is also campaigning for one thing: to establish a nationwide 'England Day.'

To this end, he submitted a petition to Parliament; so far, it has only 31 signatures.

Another petition to erect a statue of Æthelstan outside Parliament has been rejected.

In Malmesbury, a plan for an 11-foot-tall statue has also stalled.

Local residents opposed it, citing the risk of damage to the roots of three nearby silver birch trees.

And 2027 also happens to be the 'European Year of the Normans,' marking 1,000 years since William the Conqueror's birth.

This Duke of Normandy was born in 1027 and crossed the sea to invade England in 1066.

Hilling reminds us that after killing the English king, the Normans carried out a bloody massacre across the north.

His exact words were that if the commemorations could also reflect that side, then fine.

Historian and podcast host Tom Holland, however, believes Æthelstan's story is heroic and inspiring.

He says he cannot imagine America or France beginning their national story with a massive defeat.

In 937, Æthelstan defeated an invading Scottish-Norse alliance at the Battle of Brunanburh.

He is also credited with establishing a relatively centralized rule, aiming for the whole kingdom to use a single coinage.

He is buried in Malmesbury; in 2024, the town held walking events and lectures for him.

Records about him are very scattered; his exact age, cause of death, and why he never married are all lost.

In the 1920s, the 1,000th anniversary of his achievements was completely ignored.

Five years ago, a history podcast held an online vote called the 'Kings and Queens World Cup.'

He fought his way to the final and ultimately defeated Elizabeth I to win the championship.

In 2025, the station in Kingston upon Thames named a train 'King Æthelstan.'

But Holland says that momentum later 'just fizzled out.'

In Embleton Bridge, Cumbria—the place where he was recognized as king in 927—locals are embroidering a tapestry.

A community interest company named after that year plans to hold festivals and create public artworks there.

The company received a £6,000 grant from the local council to develop a website.

One of its directors is local councillor Adrian Waite.

The celebrations are all set for 2027; Hilling says this event 'must be done on a grand scale.'

Cambridge scholar David Woodman has written a book titled 'The First King of England.'

His explanation is more direct: poor Æthelstan simply didn't have a contemporary who wrote about him properly.

In 2027, Europe commemorates the Normans; Hilling and his companions hope the English will remember Æthelstan.