King Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder, born around 874 and deceased on 17 July 924, was the reigning King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his passing. As the eldest son of Alfred the Great and Ealhswith, he ascended the throne amidst a challenge from his cousin Æthelwold. Edward’s inheritance of the title ‘King of the Anglo-Saxons’ followed Alfred’s significant expansion of rule beyond just Wessex. Throughout his reign, Edward’s military campaigns were pivotal, particularly alongside his sister Æthelflæd, in the conquest of southern England, which had been under Viking control. His rule saw the annexation of Mercia into direct West Saxon control and the extension of his authority over East Anglia.

Edward’s leadership was instrumental in diminishing the Viking presence in southern England and fostering the emergence of a united English kingdom centered in the south. Despite his contributions to the kingdom’s expansion, his historical recognition was minimal until scholarly attention increased in the late 20th century. His death in 924, following the quelling of a revolt in Chester, led to his succession by his eldest son, Æthelstan. Edward’s rule laid substantial groundwork for the unification of England under future monarchs.