Edmund the Magnificent: Difference between revisions

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'''Edmund''' (later named '''the Magnificent''') was the son of [[Edward the Elder]] by his third wife, Edgiva. He was born in 921CE, and first came to prominence at 16, when he accompanied his elder half-brother, [[Athelstan]] (who had succeeded their father on the [[England|English]] [[throne]] in 924), to [[war]] aganist the [[Norway|Norse]]men of North England, at the [[battle]] of ''Brunanburgh''. When Athelstan died, in 939, Edmund succeed to the throne, the first king to be able to claim sovreignty over "all" of modern England, being ruler of Mercia, Wessex and of the North.
'''Edmund''', born 921CE, (later named '''the Magnificent''') was the son of [[Edward the Elder]] by his third wife, Edgiva. He first came to prominence at the age of 16, when he accompanied his elder half-brother, [[Athelstan]] to the [[battle]] of ''Brunanburgh'', against the [[Norway|Norse]] men of North England. Athelstan had inherited the [[England|English]] [[throne]] in 924, and when he died in 939, Edmund became the first king to able to claim sovreignty over "all" of modern England, being ruler of Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria.


When a Norseman, Olaf or Anlaf Guthfirthson, seized [[York]] and declared himself its king the following year, Edmund marched North, beseiged the city, and finally, with the help of the [[Archbishop]]s of [[Canterbury]] and York, settled a treaty. In 941 Olaf/Anlaf had a terminal accident while trying to raid Northumbria, Edmind marched north again, and removed the East Midlands area from the sway of Olaf Sigtryggson, who was trying to hold on to York, as well as blocking an advance from Wales by Idwal of Gwynedd. In 944CE Edmund marched on York itselfm expelled Sigtryggson, and, for good measure, his rival Ragnall Guthfirthson. And in the subseqeutn year he attacked Strathclyde, killed its king, and handed his kingdom to the [[Scotland|Scots]] [[Malcolm I]], and recognised Northumbria as the border between their kingdoms, thereby obtaining Malcolm's favour for life.
When the Norse King of [[Dublin]], Olaf I (Guthfrithson), seized [[York]], Edmund marched North, beseiged the city, and finally, with the help of the [[Archbishop]]s of [[Canterbury]] and York, settled a treaty. In 941 Olaf suffered a fatal accident while trying to raid Northumbria. Edmund marched north again, and removed the East Midlands area from the control of Olaf's cousin and successor, Olaf Sigtryggson, who was trying to both retain York and block Idwal of Gwynedd's advance from Wales. In 944, Edmund marched on York itself, expelling both Sigtryggson, and his rival Ragnall Guthfirthson (Olaf's brother). In the following year, he attacked Strathclyde, killed its king, and handed his kingdom to the [[Scotland|Scots]] [[Malcolm I]]. By recognising Northumbria as the border between their kingdoms, he obtained Malcolm's favour for life.


Edmund married twice, to (later [[Saint]]) Aelfgith, who bore him two sons, [[Eadwig All-Fair|Eadwig]] and [[Edgar the Peaceable|Edgar]], before her death in 944CE, and Ethelflead, daughter of Aelfgar, Ealdorman of Wilthshire, who gave him no children. Edmund died in 946, stabbed in a scuffle when an outlaw (Leofa) managed to infiltrate Edmund's hunting lodge at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire. This is recorded in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. He was buried at [[Glastonbury]], and succeeded by [[Eadred]], his younger brother.
Edmund married twice, first to (later [[Saint]]) Aelfgith, who bore him two sons, [[Eadwig All-Fair|Eadwig]] and [[Edgar the Peaceable|Edgar]] before her death in 944CE. He then married Ethelflead, daughter of Aelfgar, Ealdorman of Wilthshire, who gave him no children. Edmund died in 946, stabbed in a scuffle when the outlaw Leofa infiltrated Edmund's hunting lodge at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire. This is recorded in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. He was buried at [[Glastonbury]], and succeeded by [[Eadred]], his younger brother.


His attribution as "the Magnifient" may have been an attempt at translating into Latin a Saxon epithet meaning "''Doer of Deeds''".
His attribution as "the Magnifient" may have been an attempt at translating into Latin a Saxon epithet meaning "''Doer of Deeds''".






Revision as of 20:09, 2 November 2008

Edmund, born 921CE, (later named the Magnificent) was the son of Edward the Elder by his third wife, Edgiva. He first came to prominence at the age of 16, when he accompanied his elder half-brother, Athelstan to the battle of Brunanburgh, against the Norse men of North England. Athelstan had inherited the English throne in 924, and when he died in 939, Edmund became the first king to able to claim sovreignty over "all" of modern England, being ruler of Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria.

When the Norse King of Dublin, Olaf I (Guthfrithson), seized York, Edmund marched North, beseiged the city, and finally, with the help of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, settled a treaty. In 941 Olaf suffered a fatal accident while trying to raid Northumbria. Edmund marched north again, and removed the East Midlands area from the control of Olaf's cousin and successor, Olaf Sigtryggson, who was trying to both retain York and block Idwal of Gwynedd's advance from Wales. In 944, Edmund marched on York itself, expelling both Sigtryggson, and his rival Ragnall Guthfirthson (Olaf's brother). In the following year, he attacked Strathclyde, killed its king, and handed his kingdom to the Scots Malcolm I. By recognising Northumbria as the border between their kingdoms, he obtained Malcolm's favour for life.

Edmund married twice, first to (later Saint) Aelfgith, who bore him two sons, Eadwig and Edgar before her death in 944CE. He then married Ethelflead, daughter of Aelfgar, Ealdorman of Wilthshire, who gave him no children. Edmund died in 946, stabbed in a scuffle when the outlaw Leofa infiltrated Edmund's hunting lodge at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire. This is recorded in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. He was buried at Glastonbury, and succeeded by Eadred, his younger brother.

His attribution as "the Magnifient" may have been an attempt at translating into Latin a Saxon epithet meaning "Doer of Deeds".