Edgar of England 1 2
- Born: 943 or 944
- Marriage (1): Ethelfleda
- Marriage (2): Aelfthryth
- Died: 8 Jul 975, Winchester, Hampshire, England aged 31
General Notes:
King of the Mercians and Northumbrians from 957 who became king of the West Saxons, or Wessex, in 959 and is reckoned as king of all England from that year. He was efficient and tolerant of local customs, and his reign was peaceful. He was most important as a patron of the English monastic revival.
The younger son of Edmund I, king of the English, Edgar was made king of the Mercians and Northumbrians in place of Eadwig, his brother, who was deposed. On Eadwig's death (Oct. 1, 959), Edgar succeeded to the West Saxon throne. His ecclesiastical policy was also that of the archbishop of Canterbury, St. Dunstan, who insisted on strict observance of the Benedictine Rule. The king supported Archbishop Oswald of York and Bishop Aethelwold of Winchester in founding abbeys. Edgar's laws were the first in England to prescribe penalties for nonpayment of tithes and Peter's pence, the annual contribution made by Roman Catholics for support of the Holy See.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: King of England, 959.
Edgar married Ethelfleda, daughter of Ealdorman Ordmaer and Unknown.
Edgar next married Aelfthryth, daughter of Ordgar of East Anglia and Unknown. (Aelfthryth was born circa 945 in Lydford Castle, Devon. and died on 17 Nov 1002 in Wherwell Abbey, Hampshire.)
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