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- Edward the Martyr (Eadweard) was King of England from 975 until his murder in 978. Edward was born about 962, the only child of King Edgar the Peaceful and his first wife Æthelflæd.While Edward was Edgar's oldest son he was not his acknowledged heir. Edward witnessed charters and was identified as King Edgar's son, however, his younger half-brother Æthelredwas identified as Edgar's legitimate son. This does not mean Edward was illegitimate. It is believed that Edgar's 3rd wife Ælfthrythsought to insure her own children inherited the throne by throwing doubt on the birth of Edgar's older children. Ælfthrythherself was of the House of Wessex through her mother, so many supported her, believing her children had a stronger claim on the throne. \b3 Little is known of Edwardschildhood; After his mother's death, according to Byrthferth of Ramsey, Edward was fostered by Sideman, bishop of Crediton. This is supported by the fact that later, after becoming King, several charters were issued from Crediton, Edwardschildhood home. \b3 When King Edgar died in 975, Edward, was but 13 years old. Edward's step-mother Ælfryth,sought to have own her son Æthelred,only age 5 or 6, named king. The country was in tumultuous disagreement over who would be king. Both boys were too young to have played any significant part in the politics following Edgar's death. It was the brothers' supporters, and not the boys themselves, who were responsible for the turmoil which accompanied the choice of a successor to the throne. With the backing of Ealdorman Ælfhere,Oswald, Archbishop of York, and Archbishop Dunstan of Canterbury, Edward was chosen as king. He was crowned personally by Archbishop Dunstan at Kingston upon Thames. Edward was only 13, however, and to young to rule alone, therefore, Ealdorman Ælfhereheld the reins of government. Edward reigned only 3 short years. Influenced by Dunstan he attempted ecclesiastical reform, which angered many nobles when their lands were turned over to the church.\b3 Edward was but 16 when his life and his reign, were ended by an assassins blade. Arriving at Corfe Castle, the home of his younger brother, on March 18, 978, Edgar was pulled from his horse and stabbed in the gut by an unknown assailant. The horse then bolted dragging Edward along with him as his foot was caught in the stirrup. Edward was hurriedly buried at Wareham.\b3 Nine year old Æthelredbecame king, however, Archbishop Dunstan would not crown him until 4 May 979, after Edward's body had been exhumed by Ealdorman Ælfhereand re-buried at Shaftesbury with the honour to which he was entitled as king.\b3 In 1001 Edward's remains were moved again, to a more prominent place in the abbey, probably with the blessing of his half-brother King Æthelred.Edward was already reckoned a saint by this time. \b3 A number of histories of Edward were written in the centuries following his death in which he was portrayed as a martyr, generally seen as a victim of the Queen Dowager Ælfthryth,mother of Æthelred.He is today recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion.
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Abt 962 - 18 March 0978, MURDERED
