Born – 943
Died – 8th July 975
Father – King Edmund I ((921 – 946)
Mother – Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury (c. 902 – 944)
Spouses – m. c961 – Aethelflaed (d. c964); m. 964 – Aelfthryth (945 – 1002)
Children – by Aethelflaed – King Edward the Martyr (962 – 978); by Aelfthryth – Edmund (965 – 970), King Aethelred the Unready (966 – 1016); Illegitimate – by Wulfthryth (c937 – 1000) – Eadgyth (963 – 986)
King of England – 959 – 975
Predecessor – Eadwig – 941 – 959
Successor –Edward the Martyr – 962 – 978
943 (around)
King Edgar, known as the Peaceful, was born the son of King Edmund and his wife Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury. His elder brother, Eadwig, had been born in 941.
943 (during)
King Edmund made an alliance with King Olaf of York.
944 (during)
King Edmund re-took Northumbria from the Vikings
945 (during)
Edgar’s father, King Edmund, conquered Strathclyde and formed an alliance with Malcolm I of Scotland
946 (26th May)
King Edmund I was murdered in Pucklechurch by Leofa, a thief who had been exiled by Edmund. Edgar’s older brother Eadwig was only five years old so the boys’ uncle Eadred succeeded to the throne.
946 (after 26th May)
Edgar and his brother Eadwig were cared for by the nobleman Aethelstan and his wife Aelfwynne. Aethelstan was nicknamed half-king due to the influence he had on Edgar and his brother.
946 (16th August)
Edgar’s uncle Eadred was crowned King of England by Archbishop Oda of Canterbury at Kingston upon Thames.
947 (during)
The Viking Eric Bloodaxe took over leadership of Northumbria.
948 (around)
Edgar was educated by Aethelwald, Abbot of Abingdon, friend of Dunstan.
948 (during)
King Eadred took control of Northumbria.
949 (during)
Olaf Sihtricson, returned as ruler of Northumbria.
952 (during)
Eric Bloodaxe replaced Olaf Sihtricson as ruler of Northumbria.
952 (during)
In Northumbria, King Eadred captured and imprisoned Archbishop Wulfstan of York who had helped the Vikings.
954 (during)
The Northumbrians expelled Eric Bloodaxe and returned their allegiance to King Eadred.
955 (23rd November)
King Eadred died and Edgar’s brother Eadwig became King.
955 (after 23rd November)
Eadwig was crowned King.
955 (after November)
Eadwig upset and replaced many nobles and churchmen including Dunstan. Dunstan was exiled or exiled himself to Flanders.
957 (during)
Eadwig was not a popular King and Mercia and Northumbria both refused to recognise him as King. They chose Edgar to rule in stead.
957 (during)
As ruler of Mercia and Northumbria Edgar re-called the exiled Dunstan and made him Bishop of Worcester.
958 (2nd June)
Archbishop Odo of Canterbury died. Eadwig appointed Aelfsige of Winchester to the position. However, he soon died and Eadwig appointed Byrhthelm, Bishop of Wells to the See of Canterbury.
959 (1st October)
Eadwig died and Edgar became King of all of England. He earned the epitaph Peaceful due to the stability he brought to the country.
959 (October)
Edgar the Peaceful proclaimed that Byrhthelm was not fit to be Archbishop of Canterbury and appointed Dunstan to the post. He also chose Dunstan to be his main adviser.
960 (after)
King Edgar approved of the monastic reforms put in place by Archbishop Dunstan.
960 (21st September)
Dunstan received the pallium as Archbishop of Canterbury from Pope John XII.
960 (around)
Edgar married Aethelflaed the Fair, daughter of Ealdorman Ordmaer of Devon.
962 (during)
A son, Edward was born to Edgar and Aethelflaed.
962 (around)
A daughter, Eadgyth, was born illegitimately to Edgar and Wulfthryth at Kemsing. Edgar had abducted Wulfthryth from Wilton Abbey and taken her to Kemsing. After the birth of Eadgyth she and her daughter returned to the abbey.
964 (around)
Edgar’s wife Aethelflaed was either divorced or died.
964 (during)
Edgar married Aelfthryth, daughter of the Ealdorman of Devon.
965 (during)
A son, Edmund was born to Edgar and Aelfthryth.
966 (during)
A son, Aethelred was born to Edgar and Aelfthryth.
970 (during)
Edgar’s son, Edmund died.
973 (11th May)
King Edgar the Peaceful and his wife Aelfthryth were crowned at Bath by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. This second coronation was held at this point in his reign because it was felt that he had reached the zenith of his Kingship.
973 (during)
King Edgar received the submission of eight kings of the North, including the Kings of Scotland and Strathclyde at Chester thus strengthening his position.
975 (8th July)
Edgar died at Winchester. He was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Edward.
First published Jul 16, 2016 – Republished Jul 8 2020 @ 11:00 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2016 – 2021). King Edgar the Peaceful of England 943 – 975. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/edgar-the-peaceful-943-975/