910-929 King Edward the Elder of England

This twenty year period covers the reign of the King Edward the Elder of England, (pictured) who was King Alfred's eldest son. Edward the Elder died in 925 and was succeeded by his son Athelstan.

Sergius III was Pope in Rome and owed his position and power to his mistress, Marozia, a high-ranking Roman, with whom he had a son. When he died in 911 he was replaced by two short-lived popes -- Anastasius III (911-913) and Lando (913-914) -- before John X became pope in 914.

John X united the Roman aristocracy, befriended Berengar I, King of Italy, and succeeded in getting them to expel the Saracen invasions in Italy.

He then crowned Berengar the Holy Western Emperor and restored ties with Constantinople.

For all his good work, John X fell out with the Roman aristocrats and was murdered in 928 and replaced by Leo VI who was also murdered.

Finally, with the influence of Marozia, Stephen VIII became pope in 928.