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The British Isles weren't united under one monarch until the 17th century, though not for lack of trying. The political disunity had all sorts of enervating effects on the strength of the monarchs therein, and cemented a Celt-Romano-Saxon cultural gap between various parts of the archipelago.

With all that in mind, what's the earliest possible point post 500AD a single ruler could hold the entirety of the British Isles within his (or her, presumably) feudal domain? Only somewhat separate, could this perhaps largely personal union remain an enduring feature?

It seems a messy business given the divisions of Great Britain and Ireland in the early middle ages, with axe-wielding vikings for flavor. England itself didn't consolidate until the mid 900s, so presumably a POD could leave the political landscape quite strongly altered.

Hazarding a guess, Cnut might be the model to work with, if he can establish claims through marriage, war, or fealty elsewhere in the islands. It may help this process if by happenstance or folly Cnut is unable to gain the throne of Denmark, and keep his interest (and heirs) focused on British holdings.

Can anyone put together a better reasoned (or earlier) consolidation?
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