Edgar the Peaceful, Eadwig's younger brother, would come to represent the opposite of his sibling's rule. After Eadwig's failure to maintain control of the kingdom, Edgar, who was still quite young, was anointed king in 959, with the support of his mother, Queen Ælfthryth, and key figures like Archbishop Dunstan. His reign was marked by stability,
The historical narrative surrounding the Anglo-Saxon King Eadwig and the events of his reign is one filled with intrigue, political tension, and personal drama. Known primarily for his brief and tumultuous rule from 955 to 959, Eadwig’s story intersects with some of the most complex and significant figures of Anglo-Saxon England. However, within
The main question remains: Why was Ælfweard, despite being the legitimate heir to the throne, never crowned? The reasons are rooted in the deep political conflicts surrounding his mother’s influence and the shifting allegiances of the English nobility. When Æthelred died, there were two competing claims to the throne—Ælfweard, as the son of
Emma, the queen mother, played a central role in this controversy. She had been married to Æthelred the Unready but had, after his death, married Cnut. This politically advantageous marriage was meant to unite the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes, a move that many saw as a betrayal of her first husband's memory. Emma’s ambitions to place her sons on t