Edgar the Peaceful facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edgar |
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Contemporary portrayal in the New Minster Charter
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| King of the English | |
| Reign | 1 October 959 – 8 July 975 |
| Predecessor | Eadwig |
| Successor | Edward the Martyr |
| Born | 943 or 944 |
| Died | 8 July 975 (aged 30-32) Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Burial | Glastonbury Abbey |
| Spouse | Æthelflæd Wulfthryth Ælfthryth |
| Issue | Edward, King of England Eadgyth Edmund Æthelred, King of England |
| House | Wessex |
| Father | Edmund, King of England |
| Mother | Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury |
Edgar (born around 943 – died 8 July 975), also known as the Peaceful, was the King of the English from 959 until his death. He was the younger son of Edmund I and Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury. Edgar became king as a teenager after his older brother, Eadwig, passed away.
During his time as king, Edgar made England even more united and stable. His reign was known for being very peaceful. His most trusted helper was Dunstan, who he brought back from exile and made Archbishop of Canterbury. A very important moment in Edgar's reign was his coronation in Bath in 973. This ceremony was planned by Dunstan and is still the basis for the coronation ceremony used today in Britain. After Edgar died, his son Edward became king.
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Becoming King
Edgar was the son of King Edmund I and Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury. After King Edmund died in 946, Edgar's uncle, Eadred, ruled until 955. Eadred was then followed by his nephew, Eadwig, who was Edmund's oldest son.
King Eadwig faced some disagreements with important people and the Church, especially with St Dunstan. In 957, the nobles of Mercia and Northumbria decided to support Edgar instead. A group of nobles then declared Edgar as king of the land north of the Thames. Edgar became the King of all England when Eadwig died in October 959. At that time, Edgar was about 19 years old.
How Edgar Ruled
One of the first things Edgar did as king was to bring Dunstan back from exile. He made Dunstan the Bishop of Worcester, then Bishop of London, and later the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dunstan remained Edgar's main advisor throughout his rule.
Even though Edgar himself might not have always been "peaceful," his time as king certainly was. The Kingdom of England was already strong, and Edgar made it even more united. By the end of his reign, England was so well put together that it was unlikely to break apart into smaller kingdoms again. Historians believe Edgar's rule was very important for setting up the way kings would govern England in the future. An early king named Cnut the Great even said that everyone should follow "Edgar's laws."
Church Reforms
During Edgar's reign, there was a big movement to bring the Benedictine Rule to England's monasteries. This rule was a set of guidelines for how monks should live. This movement was very strong during the time of Dunstan and other important church leaders.
Coronation at Bath
Edgar was crowned king in Bath in 973. His wife, Ælfthryth, was also crowned queen at the same time. This was a very special event, planned to show the power and importance of his reign. The ceremony was designed by Dunstan himself. This service, which was even celebrated with a poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, is the basis for the British coronation ceremony used today.
After his coronation, other kings from Britain came to Chester to show their loyalty to Edgar. Six kings, including the King of Scots and the King of Strathclyde, promised to be Edgar's loyal supporters. Some old stories even say that eight kings rowed Edgar's royal boat on the River Dee. While these details might not be completely true, they show how powerful Edgar was seen to be.
Family Life
Edgar had several important relationships and children. His first partner was Æthelflæd Eneda. They had a son named Edward the Martyr (born around 962 – died 978).
Wulfthryth of Wilton, who was educated at Wilton Abbey, was another partner. They had a daughter named Edith of Wilton, also known as Saint Edith. Wulfthryth later returned to Wilton Abbey and became its leader.
Around 964 or 965, Edgar married Ælfthryth. She was the daughter of a powerful noble and had been married before. Edgar and Ælfthryth had two sons: Edmund Atheling (born around 966 – died around 970) and Æthelred the Unready (born around 968 – died 23 April 1016). After Edward the Martyr died in 978, Æthelred was too young to rule alone, so Ælfthryth helped govern the kingdom.
Death
Edgar died on 8 July 975 in Winchester, Hampshire. He was buried at Glastonbury Abbey. He left behind two sons: Edward, who became his successor, and Æthelred, his younger son with Ælfthryth. Edgar also had a daughter, Edith of Wilton, who became a nun and was later considered a saint.
Images for kids
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Contemporary portrayal in the New Minster Charter
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A coin of Edgar, made in Winchcombe (around 973-975).
Error: no page names specified (help). In Spanish: Edgar el Pacífico para niños
