English Kings of Wessex that issued Saxon Pennies: Beorhtric (A.D. 786-802); Ecgberht (A.D. 802-839); Aethelwulf (A.D. 839-858); Aethelberht (A.D. 858-866); Aethelred I (A.D. 865-871); Alfred the Great (A.D. 871-899); Edward the Elder (A.D.899-924); Aethelstan (A.D. 924-939); Eadmund (A.D. 939-946); Eadred (A.D. 946-955); Howel Dda, d (A.D. 949 - 950); Eadwig (A.D. 955-959);

This large and well-founded kingdom took in all of Cornwall (Cornubia), Devon, and much of Somerset. Its original capital would have been Isca (Exeter), but archaeology confirms that this was abandoned in the 5th century, and, given the advances of the West Saxons. The main part of Dumnonia in modern Devon (the Defnas Britons) subsequently fell to Wessex between 650-670.

The oppressive reigns of Offa and his successor, Coenwulf, eventually led to the downfall of Mercia and the rise of Wessex, heralded as a saviour under their king Egbert (Ecgberht). In the confused aftermath of Coenwulf's death Egbert seized his chance and in A.D. 825 defeated the Mercians in a battle at Ellendun, near Swindon which precipitated the swift collapse of Mercian power. Other kingdoms unanimously turned to Egbert as a deliverer and protector against further Mercian aggression. In A.D. 828, Egbert was recognised as the overlord of all the English kings.

Son of Aethelwulf. Aethelberht was a sub-King of Kent, Essex and Sussex from A.D. 858-860, and a King of all southern England from A.D. 860-865/6. Aethelberht took his rightful place in the line of succession to the throne of Wessex at around 30 years of age. Like all other rulers of his day, he had to contend with Viking raids on his territories and even had to battle them in his capital city of Winchester. Apparently, his military leadership was adequate, since, on this occasion, the Vikings were cut off on their retreat to the coast and were slaughtered, according to a contemporary source, in a "bloody battle."

Son of Egbert and a sub-king of Kent, his reign was characterized by the usual Viking invasions and repulsions common to all English rulers of the time. Æthelwulf is remembered as a highly religious man who cared about the establishment and preservation of the church. He was also a wealthy man and controlled vast resources. Out of these resources, he gave generously, to Rome and to religious houses that were in need. Æthelwulf was a wise and capable ruler, whose vision made possible the beneficial reign of his youngest son, Alfred the Great.

King Ethelred I was a son of Ethelwulf of Wessex. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert of Wessex, as King of Wessex and Kent in 865 A.D. He had two sons, Aethelwold being the elder and Aethelhelm being the younger. Ethelred I was not able to control the increasing Danish raids which devastated England. On 4th January 871 A.D. at the Battle of Reading, Ethelred suffered a crushing defeat, although he did hand the Danes a Pyrrhic victory. Soon after, however, Ethelred was able to re-form his army in time to win a stunning victory at Ashdown. However, he suffered another defeat on 22nd January at the Battle of Basing and was killed at the Battle of Merton on 23rd April, 871 A.D. Ethelred is buried at Wimborne in Dorset. Following his death, he was popularly regarded as a saint, but never canonised. He was succeeded by his brother, King Alfred the Great.

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, brother and successor to Aethelred I. Alfred was driven into hiding by a Viking raid, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. He recovered strength and was able to defeat the Danes at the Battle of Eddington. A peace treaty followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognized Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition was called the "Danelaw". After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Edward was the eldest son of Alfred the Great and Queen Elswith. Edward made peace with the Vikings at Tiddingford in Bedfordshire; but by 909 A.D. he took on a more aggressive stance by raiding the North-West. The following year, a joint Mercian and West Saxon army marched north and defeated the Northern Vikings completely at Tettenhall (Staffordshire). King Edward then concentrated his attentions on the Danes of East Anglia and the Five Boroughs of the East Midlands. After Aethelflaed's death in AD 918, Edward was able to take advantage of his niece Aelfwinn's minority and brought Mercia under direct Wessex control. Two years later, the Kings of the north - including Sigtrygg Caech (the Squinty) of Norse York, Constantine II of the Scots and Donald mac Aed of Strathclyde - met Edward at Bakewell and also finally recognised his overlordship. In AD 924, he was forced to lead an army north once more to put down a Cambro-Mercian rebellion in Cheshire. He died at Farndon-upon-Dee in that county on 17th July.

Edmund the Magnificent was the eldest son of King Edward the Elder by his third wife, Edgith. At the age of sixteen, he fought valiantly alongside King Aethelstan in AD 937 expelling the ruling Norse from Northern England at the Battle of Brunanburgh. Edmund was therefore the first King to inherit a united England upon Aethelstan's death two years later. Soon after, however, Olaf Guthrithson retook York and raided throughout the Midlands. Edmund marched North and besieged King Olaf and Archbishop Wulfstan of York in Leicester. Eventually Wulfstan and the Archbishop of Canterbury negotiated a peace treaty whereby the border between York and Wessex was set at Watling Street. When Olaf Guthfrithson was killed raiding northern Northumbria in AD 941, Edmund moved north to take the Five Boroughs of the East Midlands from his successor, Olaf Sigtryggson; whilst also crushing the Welsh revolt of King Idwal of Gwynedd. By AD 944, Edmund felt secure enough to move on York itself, where he expelled both Olaf Sigtryggson and his rival, Ragnall Guthfrithson. Olaf retired to Dublin. The following year, Edmund ravaged Strathclyde and killed its troublesome King, Donald mac Donald. He returned the Kingdom to its Scottish overlord, Malcolm I, thus recognising Northumbria as the northern limit of Anglo-Saxon England.

Son of Eadward. He lost the kingdom of York to Viking invaider Eric Bloodaxe.