Edward the Elder

**Edward** (16 June 874 — 17 July 924), nicknamed **the Elder** or **the Great**, was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 to his death. He was the oldest child of West Saxon King Alfred, and his wife, Ealhswith of Mercia. During Edward's reign, Wessex greatly expanded, and England was almost unified, but Edward died before he could finish the task.

When Edward became king in 899, he faced a rebellion led by his cousin, Æthelwold, who had believed that he had a better claim to the throne as he was the son of Athelred I, the older brother and predecessor of Edward's father. Edward successfully defeated Æthelwold and his army in 902. Then, Edward continued to rule England effectively until his death in 924. He was succeeded by his oldest child, Athelstan, who continued his father's plan to unify England and had succeeded by 927.

## Atheling
Edward was the son of King Alfred the Great and Ealhswith, a daughter of Ethelred, also called Mucill, Ealdorman of the Gaini. Edward was born about the year 870. As one of at least three athelings, it was not absolutely certain that he would be king after his father.

The rules of succession were somewhat flexible, and being the king's son did not guarantee his succession. The new king was selected from among the eligible athelings (sons and grandsons of former kings). Generally, an adult heir was preferred over a child heir. His cousin, Æthelwold, was older and the son of Alfred's older brother Athelred of Wessex. Alfred did that and other things to make Edward the first choice among the athelings who would succeed him as king.

By a past agreement, Alfred had control of most of the royal estates. He could leave all or some to Edward. In the 880s, Alfred made a will giving most of the royal estates to his son Edward and left his two nephews only modest lands in the eastern part of the realm. That meant that if Ætthelhelm were selected as king over Edward, he might not have had enough income to support himself as king. His reign began with his cousin Æthelwold, son of King Athelred, seizing the royal manors of Wimborne and Christchurch. When Edward confronted him, Athelwold fled. He left behind a nun whom he had abducted.

Æthelwold was accepted by the Danes of Northumbria, where he was elected King of York. In 901, Æthelwold was in Essex with a fleet he raised over seas. The Danish army quickly caught up with them. In the battle that followed, Athelwold was killed. He received a great deal of aid from his sister, Ethelflaeda. She had married Ethelred of Mercia and at his death became the leader of the Mercians. Together, Edward and Ethelflaeda defeated the Danes in numerous battles. Edward and his sister were so successful against the Danes that they quit raiding into Wessex and Mercia. Edward quickly put down the rebellion and placed a garrison in the town of Chester. Together, they had:

* Athelstan (c.893–939), succeeded as King of England.
* A daughter who married Sihtric Cáoch, Viking king of York.

Edward then married Elfleda, a daughter of Æthelhelm. Together, they had:

* * Ælfweard of Wessex (died 925), died 16 days after his father. 
* Edgiva (died aft. 951), married Charles the Simple
* Ethelhild, a nun at Wilton.
* Eadhild, married Hugh the Great, Duke of the Franks and Count of Paris.
* Eadgyth (died 946/47), married Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor.
* Eadfled, became a nun at Wilton.
* Adiva, married in 929 Boleslaw I, Duke of Bohemia.

Finakly, Edward married Eadgifu, the daughter of Sigehelm. Together, they had:

* Edmund (921–946).
* Eadred (923–955)
* Edburga, nun at Winchester.
* Eadgifu, married Louis of Aquitaine.

## Notes 
## References 
## Other websites 
* The laws of King Edward the Elder