Edgar the Atheling

**Edgar the Atheling**, or **Edgar Ætheling**, c. 1052 – 1125 or after) was a claimant to the throne of England in 1066 after Edward the Confessor died. Edgar was a popular choice among the English because he was English and a grandson of Edmund Ironside.

## Ealy life

Edgar was born in Hungary, where his father was in exile. When Edgar was five, his father, Edward the Exile returned to England from Hungary. He had been exiled from England during the Viking reign. Soon after he had returned, Edgar’s father died under mysterious circumstances.

## King of England

Edward the Confessor, who had no children, had promised the throne to his nephew Edward the Exile, his nearest living relative. In 1057, the king's messengers found Edward The Exile, his wife, Agatha; their two daughters; and their son Edgar, who were living in Hungary. Edward agreed to return to England and brought his family.

However, a few days after their arrival, Edward was killed. Edgar was then only five years old. When Edward the Confessor died, Edgar was still young (15 years old) and had no experience, money or fighters. The leaders in England expected attacks from Norway and Normandy. Under those conditions, Edgar was not a good choice as king. Royal succession in Anglo-Saxon England was determined by the Witenagemot (Witan), a council of wise men.

While Edgar was an aetheling, a prince of the royal family, he was not the heir apparent, which was was unknown in Anglo-Saxon England. A king could recommend his successor, but the actual choice was made by the Witan. The Witan first chose Edward's brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, to be the next king. On the same day that Edward the Confessor was buried, Harold was hurriedly crowned king at Westminster Abbey.

Nine months later, on 14 October 1066, at the Battle of Hastings, Harold was killed. William, Duke of Normandy, rested his army for five days before he marched to London. During that time, Edgar was selected as king in London. It was thought that a second army could be raised to fight the Normans if they had a king whose name could unite England. Howeverm William took control of England with his army before Edgar could be crowned. William met with the English leaders, including Edgar, at Berkhamsted. There, William received oaths of fealty and received hostages from Edgar.

## After Norman Invasion

Six months after Berkhamsted, William, who was now King of England, returned to Normandy. To make things easier for his representatives, who were left to govern England, he took Edgar and others with him. At the end of 1067, William brought Edgar back to England when he returned. In the summer of 1068, Edgar took his mother and sisters and escaped to Scotland. His sister, Margaret, married King Malcolm III of Scotland. Along with Malcolm, Edgar took part in several military campaigns against William, who was now now King of England. He later took part in the Crusades.

Edgar remained unmarried and never produced any children. He lived until c.1126, when he was aged 75. Edgar was the last living male member of the Anglo-Saxon royalty.

## Ancestry

Edgar was a direct descendant of a line of Wessex kings that the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_ traced back to the dynasty's supposed 6th-century founder, Cerdic, a descent that includes Alfred the Great. His grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were all Kings of England before Cnut the Great became king of all England.

## Other websites

- Edgar the Atheling, English Monarchs
- Edgar the Atheling, Schoolhistory.com

## Infobox (royalty)

- **type**: monarch
- **name**: Edgar II Ætheling
- **succession**: King of England (disputed)
- **image**: Edgar the Ætheling.jpg
- **caption**: Edgar, from an Illuminated manuscript, illuminated tree of the family of Edmund Ironside
- **reign**: 15 October – 10 December 1066
- **predecessor**: Harold Godwinson, Harold II
- **successor**: William the Conqueror, William I
- **house**: House of Wessex
- **father**: Edward the Exile, Edward of England
- **mother**: Agatha, wife of Edward the Exile, Agatha
- **birth date**: c. 1051
- **birth place**: Hungary