King Edgar

944-975. Younger son of Edmund and his first wife Elfgifu. 957 king of the land north of the Thames. When in 959 his older brother Eadwig died, he became King of all England, but was only crowned in 973 at Bath.

Edgar´s relation to the Church Edgar was considered to be a great benefactor of the Church, as he founded many monasteries and churches as for instance in Bangor. (Caradoc 50) In view of the fact that at the age of about 17 he had an affair with a woman called Wulfthryth, who wore a nun´s veil, leading at least to temporary repercussions on his relation to the Church. He was condemned with an alleged punishment of not being permitted to be king for seven years (Glenn 9). Later on, Edgar passed many laws concerning the Church. For example, he imposed punishment for people who did not pay the Church dues (cfr. Encyclopædia Britannica).

Edgar´s reign During his tenure of office, his peaceful attitude and conflict mitigation skills, especially with regard to the Welsh or the Danes in northern England, emerged. (Glenn 9) Moreover, he had great military skills, since he was able to prevent Vikings and pirates from conquering England. Edgar also received the title of “Imperator Augustus” (ibid.).

Edgar´s marriages, his death and his successor Edgar married his first wife Aethelflaed, from whom their son Edward was born. While Aethelflaed was still alive, Edgar married Aelfthryth. He was buried at the abbey church of Glastonbury on 8th July 975. After his death, his son Edward, also known as “Edward the Martyr” (ibid.) or “the younger” (Caradoc 50), succeeded to him and after four years of reign, he was battered to death by his stepmother Elfrida, in order to make her son Edelred king.

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•"Edgar." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 2 Jul. 2007.academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/31989#. Accessed 14 Jan. 2017.

•Caradoc, Richard Llwyd, William Wynne (1832): The History of Wales... Translated into English by Dr. Powell; and augmented by W. Wynne ... A new edition, greatly improved and enlarged with pedigrees of families. With a collection of documents. With maps. Shrewsbury: John Eddowes.

•Glenn, Justin (2014): The Washingtons. a Family History: Royal descents of the presidential branch Volume 3. California: El Dorado Hills, p. 9.