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 Britroyals

King Edward The Elder (899 - 924)


Name: King Edward The Elder
Born: c.871
Parents: Alfred the Great and Ealswith of Mercia
Relation to Charles III: 32nd great-grandfather
House of: Wessex
Ascended to the throne: October, 899
Crowned: June 8, 900 at Kingston-upon-Thames, aged c.29
Married: (1) Ecgywn (2) Elfleda and (3) Edgiva.  
Children: 5 sons and 11 daughters
Died: July 17, 924 at Farndon-on-Dee
Buried at: Winchester
Reigned for: 24 years, 9 months, 15 days
Succeeded by: his son Aethelstan

King of the West Saxons. He succeeded his father Alfred the Great in 899. He reconquered southeast England and the Midlands from the Danes, uniting Wessex and Mercia with the help of his sister Aethelflaed. By the time of his death his kingdom was the most powerful in the British Isles. He was succeeded by his son Athelstan.

Edward extended the system of burghal defence begun by Alfred, building new burhs, for example at Hertford and Buckingham, and twin burghs at Bedford and Stamford


Timeline for King Edward The Elder

Year Event
900Edward the Elder, son of Alfred, crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames
901Edward the Elder takes the title "King of the Angles and Saxons"
902Eric, ruler of the Danes in East Anglia, dies in the Battle of Holme
910Reconquest of Danelaw lands begins. The last great Viking army sent to ravage England is defeated by an army of Wessex and Mercia.
913Edward the Elder recaptures Essex from the Danes
915Edward is accepted as overlord by Ragnald ruler of the Viking Kingdom of York
916Edward's sister Aethelflaed of Mercia attacks and conquers most of Wales
916Vikings establish settlements at Dublin and Waterford in Ireland
918Edward becomes ruler of Mercia following the death of his sister Aethelflaed
920Edward takes East Anglia from the Danes
923The Scottish King Constantine II submits to Edward
924Edward dies at Farndon-on-Dee near Chester leading an army against the Welsh. He is buried in Winchester.