Alex Sanders (1926-1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter in Birkenhead, England, was a British witch who became famous in the 1960s as the self-styled "King of the Witches." With his wife Maxine he founded Alexandrian Wicca, a tradition that combined Gardnerian witchcraft with ceremonial magic and Kabbalah and spread widely in Britain and abroad.
Alex Sanders at a glance
| Birth name | Orrell Alexander Carter |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 June 1926, Birkenhead, England |
| Died | 30 April 1988, Sussex, England |
| Known as | "King of the Witches" |
| Tradition | Alexandrian Wicca, co-founded with Maxine Sanders |
| Initiated | Into Gardnerian Wicca around 1963 |
Early Life and Claims
Alex Sanders was born Orrell Alexander Carter in Birkenhead in 1926 and grew up in Manchester. He later told a dramatic story of his origins: that as a young boy he had discovered his grandmother performing a ritual and that she had initiated him into an ancient family tradition of witchcraft. This story appeared in his authorized biography and was repeated for decades.
Modern research has undermined it. Genealogical work summarized on Wikipedia indicates that the grandmother he named had died before he was born, and that his actual entry into the Craft came through the Gardnerian tradition in the early 1960s. Sanders is generally believed to have been initiated around 1963, probably by a Gardnerian witch named Pat Kopinski, after unsuccessful approaches to other covens.
Fame in the 1960s
Sanders quickly formed his own covens in Manchester and proved a talented self-promoter. By 1965 he was being described as "King of the Witches," a title he accepted and that many other witches disputed. In 1968 he married Maxine Morris, a young priestess who became an equal partner in his work, and the couple moved to London, where their flat near Notting Hill became a center for teaching and initiations.
The Sanderses courted the press, appearing in newspapers and on television. June Johns's biography King of the Witches was published in 1969, and Sanders appeared in the film Legend of the Witches (1970). This exposure brought many young people into the Craft during the counterculture years, even as it made him controversial among more private practitioners.
Alexandrian Wicca
The tradition that grew from the Sanderses' covens became known as Alexandrian Wicca. According to Maxine Sanders, the name was suggested by the journalist and writer Stewart Farrar, who was initiated by the couple and described their practice in What Witches Do (1971).
Alexandrian practice is close to Gardnerian Wicca in structure, with initiatory degrees, a High Priestess and High Priest, and the worship of a Goddess and a God. It differs in its greater eclecticism and its heavy use of Western ceremonial magic, including material from the Kabbalah and the grimoire tradition. Practitioners often sum up its attitude as "if it works, use it." Details of tools, names and ritual wording also vary from the Gardnerian line.
Like other forms of initiatory Wicca, Alexandrian covens celebrate the eight seasonal festivals of the Wheel of the Year and meet at the full moon. Membership passes through initiation by an existing priestess or priest, which creates a traceable lineage. Many Alexandrian covens have also been open to training people before initiation, a practice that helped the tradition grow.
Controversy and Later Life
Sanders was a divisive figure. Critics accused him of inventing his lineage, copying Gardnerian material and seeking publicity at the expense of other witches. Supporters credited him with charisma, genuine magical skill and generosity as a teacher. Both views appear in accounts by people who knew him.
Alex and Maxine separated in the early 1970s, and Maxine continued to lead the tradition in London. Alex moved to Sussex, where he continued to teach. In his later years he sought reconciliation with parts of the wider Wiccan community and trained a new generation of students, some of whom founded their own covens. He died of lung cancer on 30 April 1988.
His life has continued to attract biographers and researchers. Recent historical work, drawing on birth records and interviews, has tried to separate the documented facts of his career from the legends he told about himself, giving a more balanced picture of a man who was both a showman and a sincere practitioner.
Legacy
Alexandrian Wicca became one of the two classic lineages of British Traditional Wicca, alongside Gardnerian Wicca, and spread to North America, Europe and Australia. The books of Janet and Stewart Farrar, which published much Alexandrian ritual material, influenced generations of witches well beyond the tradition. Sanders is now remembered as a colorful, flawed and important figure in the history of modern Paganism, in the company of Gerald Gardner, Patricia Crowther and Dion Fortune. Rituals associated with Alexandrian covens, such as raising the cone of power, remain part of Wiccan practice.
Related entries
Frequently asked questions
Why was Alex Sanders called the King of the Witches?
The title was attached to Sanders in the mid-1960s, when his followers and the press began using it, and he embraced it as part of his public image. Many other witches rejected the title, noting that Wicca has no king and that covens are independent.
What is the difference between Alexandrian and Gardnerian Wicca?
Both are initiatory traditions with similar degrees and rituals. Alexandrian Wicca, founded by Alex and Maxine Sanders, is usually described as more eclectic and makes greater use of ceremonial magic and Kabbalah, while differing in some tools, names and ritual details.
Was Alex Sanders really initiated by his grandmother?
Research into his family history suggests not. The grandmother Sanders named had died before his birth, and evidence indicates he was initiated into Gardnerian Wicca around 1963. His childhood initiation story is now widely regarded as a later invention.
Sources and further reading
This entry replaces an article from the original Mystica encyclopedia (online since 2001). It was rewritten from the sources above by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.