The entry for AD 937 (given as 938 in some manuscripts) in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is in fact composed almost entirely of the poem The Battle of Brunanburh. Below, you can read the entries immediately preceding and following the battle.

AD 925. This year King Edward died at Farndon in Mercia; and Elward his son died very soon after this, in Oxford. Their bodies lie at Winchester. And Æthelstan was chosen king in Mercia, and consecrated at Kingston. He gave his sister to Otho, son of the king of the Old-Saxons. St. Dunstan was now born; and Wulfhelm took to the archbishopric in Canterbury. This year King Æthelstan and Sihtric king of the Northumbrians came together at Tamworth, the sixth day before the calends of February, and Æthelstan gave away his sister to him.

AD 926. This year appeared fiery lights in the northern part of the firmament; and Sihtric departed; and King Æthelstan took to the kingdom of Northumbria, and governed all the kings that were in this island: -- First, Howel, King of West-Wales; and Constantine, King of the Scots; and Owen, King of Monmouth; and Aldred, the son of Eadulf, of Bamburgh. And with covenants and oaths they ratified their agreement in the place called Emmet, on the fourth day before the ides of July; and renounced all idolatry, and afterwards returned in peace.

AD 927. This year King Æthelstan expelled King Guthfrith; and Archbishop Wulfhelm went to Rome.

A.D. 934. This year King Æthelstan went into Scotland, both with a land-force and a naval armament, and laid waste a great part of it; and Bishop Burnstan died at Winchester at the feast of All Saints.

A.D. 937/8. This year King Æthelstan and Edmund his brother led a force to Brunanburh, and there fought against Anlaf; and, Christ helping, had the victory: and they there slew five kings and seven earls. [The verses of The Battle of Brunanburh]

AD 941. This year King Æthelstan died in Glocester, on the sixth day before the calends of November, about forty-one winters, bating one night, from the time when King Alfred died. And Edmund Ætheling took over the kingdom. He was then eighteen years old. King Æthelstan reigned fourteen years and ten weeks. This year the Northumbrians abandoned their allegiance, and chose Anlaf of Ireland for their king.

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Last Updated on 30 January 2000.