King Edgar the Peaceful
King Edgar ('the Peaceful') was the second son of Edmund I and Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury, and king of England from 959-975 and of Mercia from 957-959. An excellent ruler, Edgar achieved peace, stability and prosperity across his kingdom, and faced no invasions from the Vikings. He reformed the church, brought in a new currency and created the counties we know today. But there was a darker side to him, and his affections for women brought out the worst of it.
| Born | 943 |
| Parents | Edmund I the Magnificent & Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury |
| Married | Aethelflaed, Aelfthryth |
| Children | 4, Edward the Martyr, Edith, Edmund & Aethelred II |
| Died | 8 July 975, buried at Glastonbury Abbey (32) |
| Reign | 959 - 975 (15) |
| Crowned | 959, Kingston upon Thames and again twice, ceremoniously, at Bath and Chester in 973 (14) |
| Predecessor | Eadwig the All-Fair (brother) |
| Successor | Edward the Martyr (son) |
| House | Wessex |
Life Events of King Edgar
943
Edgar is born to Edmund I and Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury.
944
Edgar's mother, Aelfgifu dies. Edgar is sent to Mercia to live with Ealdorman Aethelstan Half-King and his wife, Aelfwinn.
957
Mercia and Northumbria renounce their allegiance to King Eadwig, and support young Edgar. Eadwig is demoted to King of Wessex, while Edgar is titled 'King of the Mercians' at the age of 14.
959
Edgar, who is already king of Mercia and Northumbria, becomes king of all England and is coronated at Kingston upon Thames.
959
Edgar immediately appoints the exiled St Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury, and begins on monastic reforms.
959
The reforms start at Winchester Cathedral, and St Aethelwold is appointed the bishopric. New monasteries are starting to be rebuilt, where Vikings had previously destroyed them, and given extensive lands. This generosity is met with resentment from the nobles.
960
Edgar marries Aethelflaed Eneda, daughter of Hertfordshire nobleman, Ordmaer, who is known to Aethelstan Half-King, Edgar's foster father.
962
Edgar, perhaps following his late brother's affectionate ways, begins an affair with Wulthryth who was a nun at Wilton. The scandal was so great, the St Dunstan condemned King Edgar to refrain from wearing his crown for 7 years.
962
Edgar's son, Edward, is born.
963
Edgar's wife, Aethelflaed, dies. Edgar tries to marry Wulthryth, who by now had produced their daughter, Edith, out of wedlock. Wulthryth refuses, and goes on to be come Abbess of Wilton with her daughter by her side.
963
Edgar hears about the beautiful Aelfthryth, daughter of Devonshire Thegn, Ordgar. He sends his foster brother, Aethelwold, to find out what she is like. But Aethelwold falls in love with her, and they marry in secret. Upon this discovery, Edgar invites Aethelwold out hunting in Harewood Forest, Hampshire. During the hunt, Aethelwold is killed in an accident. It is suggested that Edgar did it himself.
964
Edgar marries Aelfthryth, widow of Aethelwold.
966
Edgar's son, Aethelred, is born.
973
England is seen as the most stable and respected kingdom on all Christendom. Edgar staged an elaborate double coronation ceremony to mark the new era of Anglo-Saxon kingship. The first ceremony takes place in Bath, where he is pronounced King of England. Edgar has his wife Aelfthryth crowned Queen consort, which sets a precedent for future queens.
973
Edgar marches north, in a great show of power, to Chester, where the second ceremony is performed. Eight kings attend the coronation, and it is said they rowed King Edgar down the River Dee, to show their allegiance. The vassals from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cumbria and the north pay their homage.
975
On 8 July, King Edgar dies at the age of 32. He is buried at Glastonbury Abbey. His eldest son, Edward, from his first marriage to Aethelflaed, succeeds him.
Interesting Facts About King Edgar
Peace
Throughout Edgar's reign, there are no recorded battles or invasions from abroad. This contributed to the stability and prosperity Edgar had during his reign. However, he did have a very large navy fleet, which consisted of around 3600-4000 ships, should any invaders attempt to attack.Governance
Edgar was able to keep peace with the Scandinavian population in the north, by allowing them to continue abiding by their own laws and customs.Currency
Edgar overhauled coinage, and created 2 new mints. In 973, he created a new currency.Counties
Keen to make royal administration more effective, Edgar reorganised England into counties (shires), and split those again into hundreds. This organised approach remained in place until 1974.Witan
The Witan (council) grew under Edgar's kingship. There are 2 main purposes of a Witan, and is only for those who are invited by the king. The first is to confirm and agree the king's appointment as king, not that they have any power to change that. The second is to support the king's decision making, which offers more legitimacy than outright rule.Epithet
King Edgar has the epithet 'the peaceful' or even 'the peaceable'. This moniker is testimony to his strengths as a leader in achieving lasting peace, rather than any weakness as a warrior king, who never fought in battle.Affections
Edgar was an affectionate man, much like his brother, Eadwig. After becoming king, he fell for the beautiful daughter of a nobleman from Andover, while he was staying there. He demanded her parents send their daughter to his room that night. Shocked by the king's demand, they sent one of their maids instead. The next morning, the maid left early so she wouldn't be late for her duties. Edgar worked out what had happened, and in a rage, confiscated all this host's lands!Stature
Edgar was apparently around 5 feet tall, which was rather small, even for medieval times.
FAQs About the King
Why was King Edgar called the Peaceful?
King Edgar was called 'the Peaceful' because he brought about peace and stability across the kingdom. A testament to his strong leadership.Did King Edgar marry a nun?
Edgar did not marry a nun, but he did have a relationship with Wulthryth, a nun of Wilton. They had a baby daughter together, and after Wulthryth refused to leave the convent and marry Edgar, she remained at the Abbey. Later she became Abbess of Wilton, and after her death, was honoured as a saint.Where is King Edgar buried?
King Edgar is buried at Glastonbury Abbey.
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The Anglo-Saxon Kings of England
