Edwin (son of Edward the Elder)

Edwin was a younger son of King Edward the Elder by his second wife, Ælfflæd. He drowned at sea in 933 under unclear circumstances. His father, Edward the Elder, passed away in 924, leaving behind five sons from three different marriages. Among these sons, two, Edmund and Eadred, were too young to be considered for succession. After Edward’s death, Mercians selected his eldest son Æthelstan as their king, while West Saxons chose Ælfweard, who was the elder son of Edward and Ælfflæd, and who died shortly after his father, leaving the throne open for Æthelstan after some initial resistance.

The historical record of Edwin’s life is sparse. During Æthelstan’s reign, Edwin is known to have witnessed a charter at New Minster, Winchester. His title at the time was ætheling, denoting his royal status. Details of his death come from various sources, with some suggesting internal royal conflict and a possible plot against Æthelstan, implicating Edwin in the tensions. Edwin’s remains were reportedly cared for by the monks of Saint Bertin, who were later granted a monastery at Bath by King Edmund in appreciation.