A bank holiday for England's forgotten king should be observed, campaigners say.

England was first unified under King Aethelstan in 927AD, and this year marks 1,100 years since he was crowned the first king of England.

His name has faded from public memory despite his remarkable achievements as most school curricula chooses to introduce English history from the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066.

Historians and MPs are now calling for the forgotten king to be remembered with the introduction of a new bank holiday. 

Not only did he unite several disparate kingdoms to create England, he built a deep and complex relationship with mainland Europe, encouraging scholars from Europe to visit England.

England was officially unified at Eamont Bridge in Cumbria on July 12 927. 

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, said: 'I certainly think the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England absolutely deserves a bank holiday.

Davey further said how important it is that the mainstream debate reclaims patriotism around English history.

A portrait of King Aethelstan who first unified England in 927AD, and this year marks 1,100 years since he was crowned the first king of England

Full list of UK bank holidays 2026 

Thursday, January 1: New Year's Day

Friday, April 3: Good Friday

Monday, April 6: Easter Monday

Monday, May 4: Early May bank holiday

Monday, May 25: Spring bank holiday

Monday, August 31: Summer bank holiday

Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day

King Aethelstan set trends too as the first English monarch to wear a crown, a tradition that continues today. 

Alex Burghart MP, who is backing historian calls for a memorial, said Aethelstan was 'right at the top' of English monarchs. 

'Aethalstan is this combination of an amazing administrator and a great warrior and he manages to cement the legacy of his grandfather Alfred by creating a United Kingdom of English speakers,' said Burghart

Born around the year 894AD, he was next in this line of kings and continued the family tradition of expanding the kingdom. 

He was the grandson of perhaps the most famous king of the early medieval period, Alfred the Great. 

Alfred was known for his battles with the Vikings, and for decisively defeating the Danes in the 9th Century. 

Within three years of coming to the throne, Aethelstan had conquered Danish king Sihtric, who ruled the Viking York, and therefore took the title Rex Anglorum, meaning King of the English, creating the first centralised government.