Edmund I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edmund I |
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Edmund in the late thirteenth-century Genealogical Chronicle of the English Kings
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| King of the English | |
| Reign | 27 October 939 – 26 May 946 |
| Coronation | c. 1 December 939 |
| Predecessor | Æthelstan |
| Successor | Eadred |
| Born | 920/921 |
| Died | 26 May 946 Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire, England |
| Burial | Glastonbury Abbey |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Wessex |
| Father | Edward the Elder |
| Mother | Eadgifu |
Edmund I (born 920 or 921 – died 26 May 946) was the King of the English from 939 until his death. He was the older son of King Edward the Elder and Queen Eadgifu. He was also the grandson of Alfred the Great.
Edmund became king after his half-brother, Æthelstan, died in 939. Æthelstan had united England by conquering Viking-ruled York. But after Æthelstan's death, a Viking king named Anlaf Guthfrithson took over York and parts of Mercia. Edmund had to fight to get these lands back. He recovered the Five Boroughs in 942 and expelled the Viking kings from York in 944.
Edmund had two sons, Eadwig and Edgar, with his first wife, Ælfgifu. His sons were very young when he died. He was killed in a fight with an outlaw in Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire. His younger brother, Eadred, became king after him.
Contents
Who Was King Edmund I?
Early Life and Family
Edmund's father, Edward the Elder, had many children. Edmund was born around 920 or 921. His mother was Eadgifu of Kent. Edmund had a younger brother named Eadred, who later became king. He also had several half-sisters who married into royal families across Europe.
Edmund grew up at the court of his half-brother, King Æthelstan. Æthelstan was very fond of Edmund and his brother Eadred. He made sure they were well cared for. Edmund likely learned a lot about ruling from Æthelstan.
The Battle of Brunanburh
In 937, Edmund fought alongside Æthelstan in the famous Battle of Brunanburh. This was a huge battle against an alliance of Vikings, Scots, and people from Strathclyde. The Anglo-Saxons won a great victory. This battle helped secure England's unity. Edmund was praised for his bravery in a poem about the battle.
When Æthelstan died in 939, Edmund became king without any arguments. He was probably crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames.
Edmund's Time as King
Taking Back the North
After Æthelstan died, the Vikings in York saw a chance to regain power. Anlaf Guthfrithson, a Viking king from Dublin, became king of York. He then invaded parts of Mercia, trying to take back lands that Edward the Elder and Æthelflæd had conquered.
Anlaf attacked Northampton and Tamworth. King Edmund's army met Anlaf's army near Leicester. Instead of fighting, they made a treaty. This treaty forced Edmund to give up the Five Boroughs (Lincoln, Leicester, Nottingham, Stamford, and Derby) to the Vikings. This was a big setback for England.
Victory and Unity
Luckily for Edmund, Anlaf Guthfrithson died in 941. This gave Edmund a chance to get back the lost lands. In 942, he successfully recovered the Five Boroughs. This victory was so important that a poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle celebrated it. The poem showed how the English and Danes united under Edmund against other Norse (Norwegian) invaders.
In 944, Edmund went even further. He expelled the Viking rulers from York and took full control of the city. He had help from Archbishop Wulfstan of York and a Mercian leader. This brought all of England back under his rule. However, after Edmund's death, there were more revolts in Northumbria. It wasn't fully peaceful until his brother Eadred's reign.
Relations with Other British Kingdoms
Edmund continued Æthelstan's role as the main ruler over other British kings. This included the kings of Wales. In 942, the king of Gwynedd in north Wales, Idwal Foel, was killed by the English. He may have sided with the Vikings.
In 945, Edmund attacked the British kingdom of Strathclyde. He then gave this kingdom to Malcolm I of Scotland. This was likely in exchange for Malcolm's promise to help defend it. This showed Edmund's power and his efforts to secure England's borders.
Connections with Europe
Edmund kept up the strong connections with other European rulers that Æthelstan had built. His half-sisters were married to kings and princes in places like West Francia and East Francia. Edmund maintained alliances with his nephew, King Louis IV of West Francia, and Otto I, King of East Francia. These connections helped England stay important in European politics.
How Edmund Governed
Edmund relied on many of the same trusted advisors as his brother Æthelstan. These included Æthelstan Half-King, a powerful ealdorman (a high-ranking noble who governed a region), and Oda, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 941.
Edmund made some changes to how the country was run. He appointed more ealdormen, especially in Mercia. This helped him manage the country and deal with Viking threats. His mother, Eadgifu, and his brother, Eadred, also played important roles in his government. They often signed official documents (charters) with him, showing how much they cooperated.
Laws and Justice
Edmund was an active lawmaker. Three of his law codes still exist today. These laws aimed to keep peace and order in the kingdom.
- I Edmund: This code dealt with church matters. It also said that murderers could not come near the king unless they had done penance. This showed how important the king's safety was.
- II Edmund: This code focused on stopping blood feuds (family revenge killings). It said that instead of revenge, a killer should pay wergeld (compensation) to the victim's family. It also introduced new laws against attacking homes.
- III Edmund: This law made everyone swear loyalty to the king. It said that people must be faithful to King Edmund, just as a man should be faithful to his lord. This helped unite the different peoples under his rule. This code also had rules to prevent theft, especially cattle stealing. It mentioned the "hundred" as a local government unit for the first time.
Religion and Learning
Edmund's reign was important for the early stages of the English Benedictine Reform. This was a movement to improve monasteries and religious life. Edmund appointed Dunstan as abbot of Glastonbury Abbey. Dunstan and Æthelwold, another future leader, made Glastonbury a key center for this reform.
Edmund supported religious institutions. He also encouraged learning. Latin studies continued to grow during his time.
Family Life
Edmund married his first wife, Ælfgifu, around the time he became king. They had two sons: Eadwig and Edgar. Both of them later became kings of England. Ælfgifu died in 944 and was buried at Shaftesbury Abbey. She was later seen as a saint.
Edmund later married Æthelflæd. They did not have any known children.
Death and Succession
King Edmund I died on 26 May 946. He was killed in a fight with an outlaw at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire.
Because his sons, Eadwig and Edgar, were still very young, Edmund was succeeded by his younger brother, Eadred. Edmund was buried at Glastonbury Abbey.
What Historians Say About Edmund
Historians have different opinions about King Edmund. Some say he was greatly influenced by his mother and powerful nobles. Others describe him as an "energetic and forceful ruler" and "warlike and politically effective."
Some recent historians argue that Edmund's reign was very important. They believe he made big steps towards a stronger English state. He worked closely with church leaders and local authorities. He also started to shift power from just the West Saxons to include families from Mercia and East Anglia. This helped to create a more united England.
See also
In Spanish: Edmundo I de Inglaterra para niños
