|
Biography:
Edward
II, the Martyr (975-78 AD)
Elder son of King Edgar, he succeeded to the throne as a boy of
12, and in so doing, aroused rival claims on behalf of his even
younger half-brother, Æthelred II, the Unready. He was murdered
by members of Æthelred's household at Corfe Castle in 978.
Edward
the Martyr
- St.
Edward the Martyr
- Rank:
14th Ruled: July 8, 975 - March 18, 978
- Predecessor:
Edgar of England
- Date
of Birth: 962
- Place
of Birth: Wessex, England
- Wife:
Never married
- Buried:
Brookwood Cementery
- Date
of Death:
- March
18, 978
- Parents:
Edgar of England and Ethelfleda
King Edward the Martyr (circa 962) succeeded his father Edgar of
England as King of England in 975, but was murdered, hence the epithet,
"the Martyr". While hunting one day, Edward was murdered.
He had been calling his half-brother Ethelred the Unready and his
step-mother Elfrida. Elfrida offered Edward wine and while he was
drinking it, two servants stabbed him in the back. Ethelred was
only ten years old then, so he clearly was not implicated in the
murder. Edward was buried in Dorset, and was canonized in 1001.
Edward
the Martyr
c.962-978, king of the English (975-78), son of Edgar by his first
wife. Despite the opposition of some of the nobles, Edward succeeded
his father to the throne and was crowned. However, he could not
control the kingdom and was murdered at Corfe by retainers in the
service of his stepmother, Queen Ælfthryth or Ælfrida,
and of her son, Æthelred. There is no proof that Ælfthryth
or Æthelred planned his death, as later tradition said. Edward's
body was moved to Shaftesbury, where miracles were reported, and
he was regarded as a saint and martyr by the people. Feast: Mar.
18.
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2003
Columbia University Press.
|
Photo/Drawing/Painting
|
|
Web
Site Links (at least 5):
Edward
II's Genealogy
http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon13.html
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ed/EdwardMa.html
|
A
Story, Novel, or Movie (Historical Fiction) featuring the monarch,
including annotation:
No
movies or anything about him were ever made.
|
