Edward the Martyr

Edward the Martyr was King of the English from 8 July 975 until his death on 18 March 978. He was the eldest son of King Edgar. His accession to the throne was disputed, leading to a contest between Edward’s faction, supported by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, and those supporting his younger half-brother Æthelred the Unready. Edward’s short reign was marked by political unrest and the recovery of lands by nobles which had been previously claimed by monasteries. His death was the result of murder under unclear circumstances at Corfe in Dorset.

Edward was considered divine as a medieval king, and his murder was seen as a mortal sin. He was revered as a saint after his death, with his feast day on 18 March. Despite his veneration, contemporary accounts describe him as violent, and his sanctity is viewed by some historians as unmerited. Information on Edward’s reign is limited, with few surviving contemporary sources. His reign was succeeded by his half-brother Æthelred the Unready.