Biography of Edward "Martyr" I King England 962-978

Paternal Family Tree: Wessex

959 Death of King Eadwig

975 Death of King Edgar Peaceful

978 Murder of King Edward Martyr

Death of King Eadwig

On 01 Oct 959 [his uncle] Eadwig "All Fair" I King England died. He was buried at Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. His brother [his father] King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 16) succeeded I King England.

Around 962 Edward "Martyr" I King England was born illegitimately to King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 19) and ÆthelflAed 2 Unknown.

Around 962 [his father] King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 19) and Aelfthryth Queen Consort England (age 17) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort England. She the daughter of Ordgar Earldorman Devon. He the son of King Edmund I of England and Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury Queen Consort England.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 975. Here ended his earthly dreams [his father] Edgar, of Angles king (age 32); chose him other light, serene and lovely, spurning this frail abode, a life that mortals here call lean he quitted with disdain. July the month, by all agreed in this our land, whoever were in chronic lore correctly taught; the day the eighth, when Edgar young, rewarder of heroes, his life-his throne-resigned. Edward (age 13) his son, unwaxen child, of earls the prince, succeeded then to England's throne. Of royal race ten nights before departed hence Cyneward the good- prelate of manners mild. Well known to me in Mercia then, how low on earth God's glory fell on every side: chaced from the land, his servants fled,- their wisdom scorned; much grief to him whose bosom glow'd with fervent love of great Creation's Lord! Neglected then the God of wonders, victor of victors, monarch of heaven,- his laws by man transgressed! Then too was driv'n Oslac beloved an exile far from his native land over the rolling waves,- over the ganet-bath, over the water-throng, the abode of the whale,- fair-hair'd hero, wise and eloquent, of home bereft! Then too was seen, high in the heavens, the star on his station, that far and wide wise men call- lovers of truth and heav'nly lore- "cometa" by name. Widely was spread God's vengeance then throughout the land, and famine scour'd the hills. May heaven's guardian, the glory of angels, avert these ills, and give us bliss again; that bliss to all abundance yields from earth's choice fruits, throughout this happy isle.45

Note 45. The following passage from Cotton Tiberius B iv., relating to the accession of Edward the Martyr (age 13), should be added here- In his days, On account of his youth, The opponents of God Broke through God's laws; Alfhere alderman, And others many; And marr'd monastic rules; Minsters they razed, And monks drove away, And put God's laws to flight-Laws that King Edgar (age 32) Commanded the holy Saint Ethelwold (age 71) bishop Firmly to settle-Widows they stript Oft and at random. Many breaches of right And many bad laws Have arisen since; And after-times Prove only worse. Then too was Oslac The mighty earl Hunted from England's shores.

Death of King Edgar Peaceful

On 08 Jul 975 [his father] King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 32) died at Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. He was buried in Glastonbury Abbey [Map]. His son Edward "Martyr" I King England (age 13) succeeded I King England.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 977. This year was that great council at Kirtlington46, after Easter; and there died Bishop Sideman a sudden death, on the eleventh day before the calends of May. He was Bishop of Devonshire; and he wished that his resting-place should be at Crediton, Devon, his episcopal residence; but King Edward (age 15) and Archbishop Dunstan (age 68) ordered men to carry him to St. Mary's minster [Map] that is at Abingdon. And they did so; and he is moreover honourably buried on the north side in St. Paul's porch.

Note 46. Florence of Worcester mentions three synods this year; Kyrtlinege, Calne, and Ambresbyrig.

Murder of King Edward the Martyr

On 18 Mar 978 Edward "Martyr" I King England (age 16) was murdered at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map] when visiting [his half-brother] King Æthelred "Unready" II of England (age 12) and his mother Aelfthryth Queen Consort England (age 33). He was buried in Wareham, Dorset [Map] without ceremony. His half brother King Æthelred "Unready" II of England (age 12) succeeded II King England.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 978. This year was King Edward (age 16) slain, at eventide, at Corfe-gate [Map], on the fifteenth day before the calends of April. And he was buried at Wareham, Dorset [Map] without any royal honour. No worse deed than this was ever done by the English nation since they first sought the land of Britain. Men murdered him but God has magnified him. He was in life an earthly king-he is now after death a heavenly saint. Him would not his earthly relatives avenge-but his heavenly father has avenged him amply. The earthly homicides would wipe out his memory from the earth-but the avenger above has spread his memory abroad in heaven and in earth. Those, Who would not before bow to his living body, now bow on their knees to His dead bones. Now we may conclude, that the wisdom of men, and their meditations, and their counsels, are as nought against the appointment of God. In this same year succeeded [his half-brother] Ethelred Etheling (age 12), his brother, to the government; and he was afterwards very readily, and with great joy to the counsellors of England, consecrated king at Kingston [Map]. In the same year also died Alfwold, who was Bishop of Dorsetshire, and whose body lieth in the minster at Sherborn [Map].

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 980. In this year was Ethelgar consecrated bishop, on the sixth day before the nones of May, to the bishopric of Selsey; and in the same year was Southampton, Hampshire [Map] plundered by a pirate-army, and most of the population slain or imprisoned. And the same year was the Isle of Thanet [Map] overrun, and the county of Chester was plundered by the pirate-army of the North. In this year Alderman Alfere fetched the body of the holy King Edward at Wareham, Dorset [Map], and carried him with great solemnity to Shaftsbury [Map]

Edward "Martyr" I King England 962-978 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex 849-899

Royal Ancestors of Edward "Martyr" I King England 962-978

Kings Wessex: Son of King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England

Ancestors of Edward "Martyr" I King England 962-978

Great x 4 Grandfather: Egbert King Wessex

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Æthelwulf of Wessex

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Great x 4 Grandfather: Oslac

Great x 3 Grandmother: Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex

Great x 1 Grandfather: King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons

Great x 3 Grandfather: Æthelred Mucel Mercia Earldorman Gaini

Great x 2 Grandmother: Æalhswith of Mercia Queen Consort of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eadburh of Mercia

GrandFather: King Edmund I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Sigehelm Earldorman Kent

Great x 1 Grandmother: Eadgifu Kent Queen Anglo Saxons

Father: King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England

GrandMother: Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury Queen Consort England

King Edward "Martyr" I of England

Mother: ÆthelflAed 2 Unknown