Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (7 page)

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Authors: Alison Weir

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3
Daughter
(
name not known
), who married Baldwin, Count of Hesdin.

Edmund I married secondly,
in
c
.946:

Ethelfleda

She was the daughter of Alfgar, Ealdorman of the Wilsaetas (Wiltshire?), and was perhaps born at Damerham, Wiltshire. After Edmund’s death, she perhaps married secondly Athelstan, an Ealdorman. She later became a nun at Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset, where she died after 975, when her Will was dated. She was buried in Shaftesbury Abbey.

EDMUND I

He was murdered on 26 May, 946, at Pucklechurch, Dorset, when an outlaw named Liofa stabbed him whilst he was dining in his hall. He was buried in Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset.

He was succeeded by his brother Edred.

King Edred

F
ATHER
:
King Edward the Elder
(

see here
).

M
OTHER
:
Edgiva of Kent
(
King Edward the Elder
,

see here
).

S
IBLINGS
: (
King Edward the Elder
,

see here
).

KING EDRED

He was born in
c.
923/5, and succeeded his brother Edmund I as King of England on 26 May, 946. He was crowned on 16 August, 946, at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. He expelled the Danes from England in 954, thereupon establishing his authority throughout England.

One authority states that Edred had issue, but gives no details. I have found no other evidence to support this. There is no record of his having been married.

KING EDRED

He died on 23 November, 955, at Frome, Somerset, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral. His bones are now in one of the mortuary chests there.

He was succeeded by his nephew Edwy.

King Edwy

F
ATHER
:
Edmund I
(

see here
).

M
OTHER
:
St Elgiva
(

see here
, under
Edmund I
).

S
IBLINGS
: (

see here
, under
Edmund I
).

KING EDWY

Known as ‘the Fair’, he was born in
c.
941/3 (certainly before 943). He succeeded his uncle King Edred as King of England on 23 November, 955, and was crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames
c
.26 January, 956. He was a weak king, and his authority was confined to Wessex from 958, his younger brother Edgar taking over the government of Northumbria and Mercia.

Edwy married
, during the winter of 955/6 (although no record exists as to where):

Elgiva

Her father is unknown; her mother, Ethelgiva, of unknown origin, is said by some sources to have been Edwy’s mistress. The marriage was certainly frowned upon by the Church. Late sources state that it was annulled around 958, and that Elgiva was banished from court, possibly to Ireland, but these sources may be too late to be reliable. Elgiva died around September, 959, at Gloucester.

KING EDWY

He died on 1 October, 959, at Gloucester, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

He was succeeded by his brother Edgar.

King Edgar

F
ATHER
:
Edmund I
(

see here
).

M
OTHER
:
St Elgiva
(

see here
, under
Edmund I
).