#edwardtheelder

[whencyclopedia]

Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder (r. 899-924) was the son of Alfred the Great (r. 871-899) and the King of the Anglo-Saxons in the early 10th century. He is known for his military victories over the Vikings of East Anglia and the East Midlands and for consolidating his dynasty's control over southern England.

In 865, about a decade before Edward was born, the Great Heathen Army invaded England, destroying the royal dynasties of several English kingdoms, including East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria and establishing Viking rule across these territories. It fell upon Edward's father, King Alfred of Wessex, to lead the English resistance. He defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Edington in 878 and agreed to a peace treaty with their leader, Guthrum (d. 890), who retreated east to rule over much of the territory conquered by the great army, commonly referred to as 'The Danelaw'. Alfred would spend the next two decades fortifying Wessex, reforming the army and promoting learning and literacy amongst his subjects. He also brought Mercia under his overlordship, after which he took the title 'King of the Anglo-Saxons', denoting his rule over both the Mercians and the West Saxons.

Edward succeeded his father in 899. Most of what we know of his reign comes from a collection of land charters and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which presents him as a relentless and successful warrior-king. His epithet, 'the Elder', was not used during his life but was later used to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Edward the Martyr, King of England (r. 975-978). Though well-regarded as a ruler by medieval chroniclers and modern historians, Edward often remains in the shadow of his more illustrious father. However, there has been more interest in Edward recently due to the TV series The Last Kingdom, in which he is portrayed by Timothy Innes. Yet, the show depicts Edward as a king struggling to step out of his father's shadow, with many of his achievements being accredited to the show's protagonist, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

Early Life

Edward was born c. 874-877. His parents, Alfred and Ealhswith (d. 902), a Mercian noblewoman, were married in 868. In addition to Edward, the couple had four more children: Aethelflaed (d. 918), who married the Ealdorman of Mercia and later ruled Mercia herself; Aethelgifu, who became the Abbess of Shaftesbury; Aelfthryth (d. 929) who married the Count of Flanders and another son, Aethelweard (d. 920). The earliest mention of Edward in contemporary sources comes from Bishop Asser – a Welsh priest and scholar at Alfred's court – in his work the Life of King Alfred. Asser recounts that Edward spent his youth at the king's court, studying religious and secular texts and was taught to show "humbleness, affability, and gentleness towards all." Edward was also trained in warfare, and while still in his teens, led the West Saxon army to victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Farnham in 893. Around the same time, he appears to have become a regular member of the king's council and married a woman named Ecgwynn, of whom we know little about, although the couple had a son, Aethelstan (d. 939), and a daughter, Edith.

Great Viking Army in England, 865-878 CE

Hel-hama (CC BY-SA)

In the final years of his father's reign, Edward was granted the title 'rex' (king), suggesting he had been appointed co-king alongside his father or, more likely, was given his own kingdom in Kent to provide him with experience ruling before he succeeded his father. Primogeniture (father-to-son succession) had not firmly been established in Wessex; succession was still elective to a certain degree, with the crown passing to the aetheling (prince), favoured by the nobility. Edward's main rival for the throne was his cousin Aethelwold (d. 902), the son of Alfred's brother, King Aethelred of Wessex (r. 865-871). As much of the West Saxon nobility owed their position to Alfred, they were naturally inclined to support Edward's succession, but his experience in warfare and royal administration went a long way to secure their support.

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[thebritishmonarchycouk]

On This Day In Royal History . 17 July 924 . King Edward the Elder died . . ◼ Edward the Elder, (born c. 874) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death. . He was the elder son of Alfred the Great & his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin Æthelwold, who had a strong claim as the son of Alfred’s elder brother & predecessor, Æthelred. . ◼ Edward was married three times, in all begetting 18 children. His first wife, whom he married around 893, was Egwina, a noblewoman. William of Malmesbury, writing in the twelfth century, informs us that her children, including Athelstan, who succeeded his father, were illegitimate, however this is unlikely as Athelstan ascended to the throne as undisputed King after the death of his father. . ◼ Edward the Elder died from his wounds gained while leading an army to combat a Cambro-Mercian rebellion, on 17 July 924 at Farndon-on-Dee, Mercia, his body was buried at the the New Minster at Winchester, which Edward himself had established. . ▪️ Following the Norman conquest, the minster was replaced by Hyde Abbey & King Edward’s body was transferred there. His grave is currently marked by a cross-inscribed stone slab within the outline of the old abbey marked out in a public park. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Athelstan whom he had named as his heir. . ◼ Edward was admired by medieval chroniclers, and in the view of William of Malmesburwas “much inferior to his father in the cultivation of letters” but “incomparably more glorious in the power of his rule” . . . #onthisdayinhistory #thisdayinhistory #d17jul #theyear924 #KingEdward #King #EdwardtheElder #HouseofWessex #History #EnglishMonarchy #Warrior #AlfredtheGreat #RoyalHistory #Anglo #saxons #OnThisDay #historyblogger #BritishMonarchy #OTD #OnThisDay #RoyalHistory #historyfacts #instahistory #Theking #English #Anglosaxon #Anglosaxons #Anglo #Saxon (at United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCwU-aPD4o2/?igshid=1sfjjp95dmvm1

[garydrostle]

In 915 Edward the Elder captured Bedford from the Danes and preceded to extend the fortified town south of the river including a large ditch, known as King’s Ditch. Detail of the Bedford Medieval Map mosaic at Bedford Castle. #mosaic #mosaicmap #medievalengland #englishhistory #edwardtheelder #danelaw #bedford #kingsditch (at Bedford Castle) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvWaNFBA4Tx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u9121fnt1vab

[sam-jack-loveforever]

The Last Kingdom || 🛡 Finally watching season 4 omg 😍 #thelastkingdom #season4 #netflixengland #historicaldrama #alexanderdreymon #uthred #uthredofbebbanburg #emilycox #brida #ianhart #fatherbeocca #elizabutterworth #aelswith #evabirthistle #hild #mrkrowley #finan #tobyregbo #aethelred #milliebrady #aethelflaed #timothyinnes #edwardtheelder https://www.instagram.com/p/CHyCovDDcpW/?igshid=7s8jaml5pyb2

[thebritishmonarchycouk]

On This Day In History . 17 July 924 . King Edward the Elder died . . ◼ Edward the Elder (c. 874 – 17 July 924) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great & his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin Æthelwold, who had a strong claim as the son of Alfred's elder brother & predecessor, Æthelred. . ◼ Edward was married three times, in all begetting 18 children. His first wife, whom he married around 893, was Egwina, a noblewoman. William of Malmesbury, writing in the twelfth century, informs us that her children, including Athelstan, who succeeded his father, were illegitimate, however this is unlikely as Athelstan ascended to the throne as undisputed King after the death of his father. . ◼ Edward the Elder died from his wounds gained while leading an army to combat a Cambro-Mercian rebellion, on 17 July 924 at Farndon-on-Dee, Mercia, his body was buried at the the New Minster at Winchester, which Edward himself had established. . ▪️ Following the Norman conquest, the minster was replaced by Hyde Abbey & King Edward's body was transferred there. His grave is currently marked by a cross-inscribed stone slab within the outline of the old abbey marked out in a public park. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Athelstan whom he had named as his heir. . ◼ Edward was admired by medieval chroniclers, and in the view of William of Malmesburwas "much inferior to his father in the cultivation of letters" but "incomparably more glorious in the power of his rule" . . . #onthisdayinhistory #thisdayinhistory #d17jul #theyear924 #KingEdward #King #EdwardtheElder #HouseofWessex #History #EnglishMonarchy #Warrior #AlfredtheGreat #BritishMonarchy #OTD #OnThisDay #RoyalHistory #historyfacts #instahistory #Theking #English #Anglosaxon #Anglosaxons #Anglo #Saxon (at United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0CHnXKgOTp/?igshid=x7vfplffgwmn

[thebritishmonarchycouk]

Kings and Queens of England . Edward the Elder 👑 . King of the Anglo-Saxons . Reign: 26 October 899 – 17 July 924 Coronation: 8 June 900, Kingston upon Thames. . Born: c. 874 Parents: Alfred the Great & Ealhswith. House of: Wessex. . Marriages & children: . (1.) Ecgwynn around 893. Their children were: . 👑 Æthelstan, King of England 924–939. 🔹A daughter, perhaps called Edith, married Sihtric, Viking King of York in 926, who died in 927. Possibly Saint Edith of Polesworth. . (2.) In c. 900, Edward married Ælfflæd, daughter of Ealdorman Æthelhelm, probably of Wiltshire. Their children were: . 🔹Ælfweard, died August 924, a month after his father; possibly King of Wessex for that month. 🔹Edwin, drowned at sea 933. 🔹Æthelhild, lay sister at Wilton Abbey. 🔹Eadgifu (died in or after 951), married Charles the Simple, King of the West Franks, c. 918. 🔹Eadflæd, nun at Wilton Abbey. 🔹Eadhild, married Hugh the Great, Duke of the Franks in 926. 🔹Eadgyth (died 946), in 929/30 married Otto I, future King of the East Franks, & (after Eadgyth’s death) Holy Roman Emperor. 🔹Ælfgifu or Edgiva, married “a prince near the Alps”, perhaps Louis, brother of King Rudolph II of Burgundy. . (3.) Edward married for a third time, about 919, Eadgifu (born. in or before 903 – died. in or after 966), the daughter of Sigehelm, Ealdorman of Kent. Their children were: . 👑 Edmund I, King of England 939–946 👑 Eadred, King of England 946–955 🔹Eadburh (died c. 952), Benedictine nun at Nunnaminster, Winchester, & saint 🔹Eadgifu, existence uncertain, possibly the same person as Ælfgifu . Died:17 July 924, Farndon, Cheshire, Mercia. Burial: New Minster, Winchester, later translated to Hyde Abbey. . Successor: Æthelstan (son) . . . #kingsandqueensofgreatbritain #kingsandqueens #Monarchy #RoyalHistory #Royalty #Royals #History #Portraitpainting #historyinpictures #Britishhistory #BritishMonarchy #Art #Painting #Monarch #EnglishHistory #EnglishMonarchy #Heritage #Medievalhistory #Medievaltimes #HistoryFacts #medieval #MedievalEngland #Anglosaxons #Anglosaxon #EdwardtheElder #KingEdward #Houseofwessex #Wessex #Theking (at Winchester, Hampshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRf11HRMfxI/?utm_medium=tumblr