Atheling
House of Wessex · England

Edgar Ætheling

Ætheling of the house of Cerdic. 1052 to 1126.

What is known, and how well

FactValueCertainty
Birth1052Year
Death1126Year
FatherEdwardAs recorded
MotherAgathaAs recorded
HouseHouse of Wessex
RealmEngland
How sure we areHighOf this record as a whole

In brief

Born in Hungary about 1052 to Edward the Exile and Agatha, brought to England in 1057 when his father was recalled as heir and died within days of landing. Passed over by the Witan in January 1066 as too young, chosen as king by Ealdred and the Londoners after Hastings and never crowned, submitted at Berkhamsted. A hostage in Normandy in 1067, fled to Scotland in 1068, proclaimed at York in 1069, expelled after Abernethy, submitted in 1074 for a pound of silver a day. Left for Apulia in 1086, served Robert Curthose, put his nephew on the Scottish throne in 1097, went to Jerusalem about 1102, was captured at Tinchebray in 1106 and pardoned. Never married. William of Malmesbury saw him living quietly in the country about 1125; nothing is heard of him after.

Events

  1. London chooses Edgar

    With Harold dead, Archbishop Ealdred and the citizens of London name the boy of the old house as king.

    With Edgar, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar, Stigand
  2. Edgar submits at Berkhamsted

    William crosses the Thames at Wallingford and the English leaders come out to meet him.

    With William, Edgar, Stigand, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar
  3. William is crowned at Westminster

    Ealdred of York crowns the Conqueror on Christmas Day while his guards set fire to the houses outside.

    With William, Stigand, Edgar
  4. William sails for Normandy

    The new king spends most of 1067 across the Channel, leaving Odo and fitzOsbern to govern.

    With William, Odo, FitzOsbern, Edgar
  5. Edgar flees to Scotland

    The ætheling leaves court with his mother and sisters and finds shelter with Malcolm.

    With Edgar, Malcolm III, Margaret
  6. Robert de Comines is burned at Durham

    The new Norman earl of Northumbria dies with his men in a single night.

    With Edgar, Waltheof
  7. The Danes and the north take York

    Sweyn’s fleet in the Humber joins Edgar, Waltheof, and the Northumbrians against the Norman garrison.

    With Sweyn, Edgar, Waltheof, William
  8. Malcolm submits at Abernethy

    William marches into Scotland by land and sea and the King of Scots does homage.

    With Malcolm III, William, Edgar
  9. Edgar makes his peace

    The last claimant of the old house comes to court and accepts a pension.

    With Edgar, William
  10. Edgar leaves William's court

    The ætheling walks out on a king who gives him little honour and sails for Norman Italy.

    With Edgar, William
  11. William dies and Edgar joins Robert

    Normandy goes to Robert Curthose, England to William Rufus, and the ætheling picks Robert.

    With William, Robert, William, Edgar
  12. Robert and Rufus make peace over Edgar's head

    The brothers' treaty strips the ætheling of his Norman lands and sends him back to Scotland.

    With Robert, William, Edgar, Malcolm III
  13. Malcolm is killed at Alnwick

    The King of Scots and his heir Edward die raiding Northumbria. Margaret follows within days.

    With Malcolm III, Margaret, Edgar
  14. Edgar puts his nephew on the Scottish throne

    With Rufus's army behind him, the ætheling drives out Donald Bane and makes the younger Edgar king.

    With Edgar, William, Edgar
  15. Henry I marries Edgar's niece

    The new king weds Edith of Scotland, who takes the name Matilda, and the blood of Cerdic returns to the English crown.

    With Henry, Matilda of Scotland, Edgar
  16. Tinchebray

    Henry defeats Robert Curthose and takes Normandy. Edgar is captured with the duke.

    With Henry, Robert, Edgar

Related people

Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar, Stigand, William, Odo, FitzOsbern, Malcolm III, Margaret, Waltheof, Sweyn, Robert, William, Henry, Matilda of Scotland.

Sources

Where this is recorded

Named in the record

Reference works

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