Edgar Ætheling

Edgar Ætheling, also known as Edgar II, was the final male descendant of the royal House of Cerdic of Wessex. Born in Hungary to Edward the Exile and Agatha, he was part of a lineage that included English kings such as his grandfather Edmund Ironside, and his great-great-grandfather Edgar the Peaceful. Following his father’s death, Edgar was left as the only surviving male heir of the royal dynasty. In 1066, the Witenagemot elected him King of England after Edward the Confessor’s death, but he was never crowned due to the competing claims and subsequent Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror.

Edgar’s brief claim to the throne ended when he submitted to William in December 1066. He spent the following years in various attempts to reclaim the throne, which included exile, supporting rebellions, and diplomatic ventures. Despite his efforts, Edgar never regained the crown and ultimately returned to England as a subject of William. His later life involved supporting Norman and Scottish dynastic struggles and participating in the First Crusade.