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== Kingship of England ==
== Kingship of England ==
Edward the Confessor, who had no children, had promised the throne to his [[nephew]] Edward the Exile, his nearest living relative.<ref name=Collier20>Martin Collier, ''Changing Times 1066-1500'' (Oxford: Heinemann, 2003), p. 20</ref> In 1057, the king's messengers found Edward, his wife Agatha, their two daughters and son Edgar living in [[Hungary]].<ref name=Hughes299>David Hughes, ''The British Chronicles, Volume 1'' (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2007), p. 299</ref> Edward agreed to return to England and brought his family. But a few days after their arrival Edward was killed.<ref name=Hughes299/> At the time Edgar was only five years old.<ref name=Collier20/> When Edward the Confessor died Edgar was still young and had no experience, money or soldiers.<ref name=Collier20/> The leaders in England expected attacks from Norway and Normandy. Under these conditions Edgar was not a good choice as king.<ref name=Collier20/> Royal succession in Anglo-Saxon England was determined by the [[Witenagemot]] (Witan), a council of wise men.<ref name=Bogdanor2>Vernon Bogdanor, ''The Monarchy and the Constitution'' (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 2</ref>
Hi guys! Edward the Confessor, who had no children, had promised the throne to his [[nephew]] Edward the Exile, his nearest living relative.<ref name=Collier20>Martin Collier, ''Changing Times 1066-1500'' (Oxford: Heinemann, 2003), p. 20</ref> In 1057, the king's messengers found Edward, his wife Agatha, their two daughters and son Edgar living in [[Hungary]].<ref name=Hughes299>David Hughes, ''The British Chronicles, Volume 1'' (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2007), p. 299</ref> Edward agreed to return to England and brought his family. But a few days after their arrival Edward was killed.<ref name=Hughes299/> At the time Edgar was only five years old.<ref name=Collier20/> When Edward the Confessor died Edgar was still young and had no experience, money or soldiers.<ref name=Collier20/> The leaders in England expected attacks from Norway and Normandy. Under these conditions Edgar was not a good choice as king.<ref name=Collier20/> Royal succession in Anglo-Saxon England was determined by the [[Witenagemot]] (Witan), a council of wise men.<ref name=Bogdanor2>Vernon Bogdanor, ''The Monarchy and the Constitution'' (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 2</ref>


While Edgar was an Ætheling (a prince of the royal family) he was not the [[heir apparent]]. That designation was unknown in Anglo-Saxon England.<ref>Levi Roach, ''Kingship and Consent in Anglo-Saxon England, 871–978'' (New York; Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2013), p. 40, n. 50</ref> A king could recommend his successor but the actual choice of king was made by the Witan.<ref name=Bogdanor2/> The first thing the Witan did was choose Edward's [[brother-in-law]], [[Harold Godwinson]] to be the next king.<ref name=Stenton580>Frank Stenton, ''Anglo-Saxon England'', Third Edition (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 580</ref> On the same day Edward the Confessor was buried, Harold Godwinson was hurriedly crowned king at [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref name=Stenton580/>
While Edgar was an Ætheling (a prince of the royal family) he was not the [[heir apparent]]. That designation was unknown in Anglo-Saxon England.<ref>Levi Roach, ''Kingship and Consent in Anglo-Saxon England, 871–978'' (New York; Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2013), p. 40, n. 50</ref> A king could recommend his successor but the actual choice of king was made by the Witan.<ref name=Bogdanor2/> The first thing the Witan did was choose Edward's [[brother-in-law]], [[Harold Godwinson]] to be the next king.<ref name=Stenton580>Frank Stenton, ''Anglo-Saxon England'', Third Edition (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 580</ref> On the same day Edward the Confessor was buried, Harold Godwinson was hurriedly crowned king at [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref name=Stenton580/>

Revision as of 13:59, 14 December 2015

Edgar II Ætheling
Edgar, from an illuminated tree of the family of Edmund Ironside
King of England (disputed)
Reign15 October – 10 December 1066
Coronationnever crowned
PredecessorHarold II
SuccessorWilliam I
Bornc 1051
Hungary
Diedc 1126 (aged c 75)
unknown
HouseHouse of Wessex
FatherEdward of England
MotherAgatha

Edgar the Atheling (or Edgar the Ætheling, c. 1051– c. 1126) was a claimant to the throne of England in 1066 after Edward the Confessor died.[1] Edgar was a popular choice among the English, because he was English and a grandson of Edmund Ironside. He was born in Hungary because his father was in exile there. When Edgar was five, his father, Edward the Exile returned to England from Hungary (he had been exiled from England during the Viking Cnut's reign). Soon after returning, Edgar’s father died under mysterious circumstances.

Kingship of England

Hi guys! Edward the Confessor, who had no children, had promised the throne to his nephew Edward the Exile, his nearest living relative.[2] In 1057, the king's messengers found Edward, his wife Agatha, their two daughters and son Edgar living in Hungary.[3] Edward agreed to return to England and brought his family. But a few days after their arrival Edward was killed.[3] At the time Edgar was only five years old.[2] When Edward the Confessor died Edgar was still young and had no experience, money or soldiers.[2] The leaders in England expected attacks from Norway and Normandy. Under these conditions Edgar was not a good choice as king.[2] Royal succession in Anglo-Saxon England was determined by the Witenagemot (Witan), a council of wise men.[4]

While Edgar was an Ætheling (a prince of the royal family) he was not the heir apparent. That designation was unknown in Anglo-Saxon England.[5] A king could recommend his successor but the actual choice of king was made by the Witan.[4] The first thing the Witan did was choose Edward's brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson to be the next king.[6] On the same day Edward the Confessor was buried, Harold Godwinson was hurriedly crowned king at Westminster Abbey.[6]

Nine months later, on 14 October 1066 at the battle of Hastings Harold was killed.[7] Duke William rested his army for five days before marching to London. During this time Edgar was selected as king in London. It was thought a second army could be raised to fight the Normans if they had a king whose name could unite England.[7] But William took control of England with his army before Edgar could be crowned. William met with the English leaders including Edgar, at Berkhamsted. There William received oaths of fealty and received hostages from Edgar.[7]

After 1066

Six months after Berkhamsted, King William returned to Normandy. To make things easier for his representatives left to govern England, he took Edgar and others with him.[7] At the end of 1067 William brought Edgar back to England when he returned. In the summer of 1068 Edgar took his mother and sisters and escaped to Scotland. His sister, Margaret, married King Malcolm III of Scotland. Along with Malcolm, Edgar took part in several military campaigns against William, now King of England. He later took part in the Crusades.

It is thought he was the last living male member of the Anglo-Saxon royalty.

References

  1. ↑ "Atheling" means "prince of the royal family
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Martin Collier, Changing Times 1066-1500 (Oxford: Heinemann, 2003), p. 20
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 David Hughes, The British Chronicles, Volume 1 (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2007), p. 299
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vernon Bogdanor, The Monarchy and the Constitution (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 2
  5. ↑ Levi Roach, Kingship and Consent in Anglo-Saxon England, 871–978 (New York; Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2013), p. 40, n. 50
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, Third Edition (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 580
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, Third Edition (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), pp. 593–597

Other websites

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