Edward the Elder

Edward (16 June 874 — 17 July 924), nicknamed the Elder or the Great, was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 to his death. He was the oldest child of West Saxon King Alfred, and his wife, Ealhswith of Mercia. During Edward's reign, Wessex greatly expanded, and England was almost unified, but Edward died before he could finish the task.

When Edward became king in 899, he faced a rebellion led by his cousin, Æthelwold, who had believed that he had a better claim to the throne as he was the son of Athelred I, the older brother and predecessor of Edward's father. Edward successfully defeated Æthelwold and his army in 902. Then, Edward continued to rule England effectively until his death in 924. He was succeeded by his oldest child, Athelstan, who continued his father's plan to unify England and had succeeded by 927.

Edward was the son of King Alfred the Great and Ealhswith, a daughter of Ethelred, also called Mucill, Ealdorman of the Gaini.^[1] Edward was born about the year 870.^[2] As one of at least three athelings, it was not absolutely certain that he would be king after his father.

The rules of succession were somewhat flexible, and being the king's son did not guarantee his succession. The new king was selected from among the eligible athelings (sons and grandsons of former kings).^[3] Generally, an adult heir was preferred over a child heir.^[4] His cousin, Æthelwold, was older and the son of Alfred's older brother Athelred of Wessex.^[4]

When he was about four years old, Edward was sent to Rome, where, in a ceremony, he was given a sword,a belt and the rank of consul.^[5] Alfred did that and other things to make Edward the first choice among the athelings who would succeed him as king.

By a past agreement, Alfred had control of most of the royal estates. He could leave all or some to Edward. In the 880s, Alfred made a will giving most of the royal estates to his son Edward and left his two nephews only modest lands in the eastern part of the realm. That meant that if Ætthelhelm were selected as king over Edward, he might not have had enough income to support himself as king.^[3]

Edward began to rule on his father's death on 26 October, 899, but he was not crowned until Whitsunday (8 June) 900.^[a][7] His reign began with his cousin Æthelwold, son of King Athelred, seizing the royal manors of Wimborne and Christchurch.^[8] When Edward confronted him, Athelwold fled. He left behind a nun whom he had abducted.

Æthelwold was accepted by the Danes of Northumbria, where he was elected King of York.^[9] In 901, Æthelwold was in Essex with a fleet he raised over seas.^[8] In 902 he convinced a Danish army in East Anglia to raid into Wessex and Mercia with him. In response, Edward led his army into East Anglia and destroyed the countryside. Edward ordered his troops to retire to Wessex, but the Kentish men disobeyed his orders and stayed behind.^[10] The Danish army quickly caught up with them. In the battle that followed, Athelwold was killed.^[9]

Edward continued his wars against the Danes.^[11] He received a great deal of aid from his sister, Ethelflaeda. She had married Ethelred of Mercia and at his death became the leader of the Mercians. Together, Edward and Ethelflaeda defeated the Danes in numerous battles.^[11] However, Ethelflaeda also built a line of fortresses on the Mercian frontier, as her father, Alfred the Great, had done on Wessex<s borders with the Danish-held territories.^[11] Edward began to use the fortresses differently. He used them not only to defend his own lands but also to hold captured lands.^[12] Edward and his sister were so successful against the Danes that they quit raiding into Wessex and Mercia.^[12]

Freed of wars with the Danes, Edward could attend to other issues. He brought Strathclyde and parts of Northumbria under his control. He also brought Mercia under his direct rule after his sister Ethelflaeda died.^[12] The appearance of the Viking leader Ragnvald in York slowed his progress. However, by the end of his reign, he controlled all lands south of the River Humber.^[12] In a treaty, Ragnvald, the kings of Strathclyde and the Scots, recognised his rule.^[12]

In 924, Mercian nobles wanting to be free of Edward's rule made an alliance with the Welsh.^[13] Edward quickly put down the rebellion and placed a garrison in the town of Chester.^[13] However, that expedition proved to be his last. Edward died on 17 July 924.^[13] By the end of the year his son Athelstan had been recognised as the rightful king.^[13]

Edward's first wife was Egwina.^[14] Together, they had:

• Athelstan (c.893–939), succeeded as King of England.^[14]
• A daughter who married Sihtric Cáoch, Viking king of York.^[14]

Edward then married Elfleda, a daughter of Æthelhelm.^[14] Together, they had:

• * Ælfweard of Wessex (died 925), died 16 days after his father.^[14]
• Edgiva (died aft. 951), married Charles the Simple^[14]
• Ethelhild, a nun at Wilton.^[14]
• Eadhild, married Hugh the Great, Duke of the Franks and Count of Paris.^[14]
• Eadgyth (died 946/47), married Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor.^[14]
• Eadfled, became a nun at Wilton.^[14]
• Adiva, married in 929 Boleslaw I, Duke of Bohemia.^[14]

Finakly, Edward married Eadgifu, the daughter of Sigehelm.^[14] Together, they had:

• Edmund (921–946).^[14]
• Eadred (923–955)
• Edburga, nun at Winchester.^[14]
• Eadgifu, married Louis of Aquitaine.^[14]

• The laws of King Edward the Elder Archived 2010-01-11 at the Wayback Machine