Edgar the Peaceful
Born in Bath, BathBorn on 7th of August 943
Died on 8th of July 975
Edgar (The Peaceful) was born in 943 into the house of Wessex, the youngest of two sons, of King Edmund I, his mother was Elgiva, she died a few months after his birth, and his father was murdered whilst Edgar was a young boy. He was educated by Ethelwald, the Abbot of Abingdon who was closely associated with Dunstan, his elder brother Edwy was chosen by Nobles to succeed his uncle King Edred, he ascended to the throne on his death in November 955. His Coronation took place in Kingston Upon Thames the following year. Edwy fought a bloody battle at Gloucester where he suffered defeat, it was decided by the Nobles that the best course of action would be to divide the kingdom, with the borders of the River Thames, Edwy would retain the powerful kingdom of Wessex and Kent, whilst Edgar would rule the north. Edwy had disagreements with the church, and Dunstan which resulted in Dunstan fleeing in exile, Edwy died before he reached the age of twenty, he was later buried at Winchester Cathedral. Edgar, no longer having to share the kingdom, became King of all England at the young age of sixteen.
He called for Dunstan to be re-called from exile, and he became a trusted advisor to Edgar, and ultimately was made Archbishop Of Canterbury. Monastic reform occurred, and Edgar ordered the building of many more monasteries. It was to be several years after ascending to the throne that his Coronation took place at Bath in 973, this episode was of great importance, after the ceremony King Edgar journeyed to Chester where he was met by six Kings, who pledged their allegiance to him, and rowed across the River Dee.
Edgar married twice, his first wife was Elfleda and produced one son, Edward, who would be known as Edward the Martyr, but that marriage ended in divorce, he then married his mistress Elfrida, this union produced two further sons, Edmund who died, and Ethelred, later to be labelled The Unready. Elfrida was crowned at Bath Abbey in May 975. Edgar fathered two sons, both of which ascended to the throne. King Edgar saw the union of England, and the growth of the Navy to protect against marauding Danes, he divided England into Shires and proved a strong leader of men. He died in Winchester on the 8th July 975 aged 33 years. He was later buried in Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset. He was succeeded by his eldest son Edward, who was murdered at Corfe Castle in Dorset in 978, at the age of sixteen.
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