First King of England

Question

Hi Wikitreers,

Anyone else find this topic of interest?

Who really was Edmund (Wessex) of England (abt. 920 - 946)? 

Was he the first King of England?

The names all seem the same or similar but how many sisters and brothers did he have?

Did his mother and siblings try to protect him from birth and consider him the first “King of England”?

I’d like to know more about his mother as well. The name and meaning or anything that can be gleaned.

Is the photo image the real image of this person? Or the imagination of some artist depiction? Does a real painting of him exist?

I’d love to hear feedback or comments 

Thank you

This Era seems complex in England…

I’m very curious as his father had 3 wives so if one of his sons was age 16-20 with one of his wives and Edmund was a infant whose son or wife would that boy belong to?

Maybe his mother and siblings and family considered Edmund was the first king? Maybe the siblings had a sense of obligation in this family group?

See also: YouTube

Comments

What about Æthelstan?

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“First king to succeed to ALL of England” after death of his elder half brother but 4th succession?

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Two boys match who I was looking for. The fathers second wife Æflaeda (Wiltshire) of Wiltshire (abt. 878 - bef. 920) she bore two sons Ælfweard (Wessex) of Wessex (abt. 900 - 924) who would be about the age of 20 in 920-921 and Ædwin (Wessex) of Wessex (aft. 902 - abt. 933) who would be about the age of 18 in 920-921 when King Edmund was born by the 3rd wife. 

I find it very interesting as I believe in past lives…so my interest goes directly to these two boys who apparently died early in life. 

Just a side note for interest

Thank you for the comments  I appreciate feedback especially on these two half brothers he had. 

Edit: it seemingly appears Æthelstan (Wessex) of England (abt. 894 - 939) might of had the two half brothers killed?

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The area of land we now call England was composed of many smaller kingdoms at the time, each with own name. So modern England itself wasn't really a concept at the time. It was only after Anglo Saxon kings held all the land for a significant period that the Land of the Angles was close to what we have today. (The Vikings also captured large amounts of land for various times, taking it out of Anglo Saxon rule.)

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It is a very complex history with a lot of boundary lines changing short lived kingdoms; however I do want to focus on the second wife of his father and the children with his second wife. 

The question why was Edmund the favored brother of  Æthelstan? I’m not 100% convinced he had the two half brothers of the second wife of his father killed or removed. 

A very interesting family, but I do believe the 3rd wife made it clear her son Edmund was the first King of England in her viewpoint and the family had to support that plan when he was but an infant with everyone committed and obligated to keep him safe as outside factors she felt would and could kill him before his time of reign. In the end he was killed by the “robber” at age about 26.

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A poem in 4 copies of the AS chronicle puts AEthelstan and Eadmund side by side at the The Battle of Brunanburh. Would make sense to acclaim a proven   warrior brother as next king    (I'm not expert enough to tell.you whether it is a true recollection  or a poem written to laud the two brothers that became King ) https://loki.stockton.edu/~kinsellt/litresources/brun/brun2.html

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So glad you posted this link it really is amazing this poem made it down through the last 1,000 years!

I am still amazed at the old English words and language of that era so far removed from todays modern English!

Their is so much mystery of course surrounding the family, but then Edmunds children from the first wife gets more interesting; seems some say she was a concubine and no marriage and the second wife was a legitimate queen, but no kids. Then of course Edmund is stabbed to death at about age 26th at the apex of his glory from battle…

Answer 1

Edmund I's older half-brother Æthelstan is often regarded as the first "king" of England. But that is a question of semantics, and I doubt it is worth debating. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls him king, and he was certainly king of Wessex, but it does not explicitly call him king of England: it says he "governed all the kings who were in this island".  

When Æthelstan died, Edmund was the next-born surviving son of his father, so his choice as successor did not make him a "favoured brother". Entries in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the reign of Edmund I indicate that Edmund's rule of northern England was contested by other kings of Danish origin. Edmund was succeeded by his younger brother Eadred.

There are no contemporary paintings of Edmund. The picture on his profile is a much later artist's attempt at an imaginary portrait.

There were two intermediate half-brothers, between Æthelstan and Edmund. Of these, Ælfward died in 924, within weeks of his father - the date is given by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. We have no idea what caused his death, but there is no indication to suspect foul play. Ædwin died in 933, drowned in the English Channel according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: the suggestion that Æthelstan ordered his death has not been dated back further than the 12th century chronicler Simeon of Durham, and should not be regarded as  trustworthy.

Please read relevant profiles for further information.

[minor edits for typos etc]

Comments

Thank you 

I find it very interesting also to point out that none of the sons of Eadweard (Wessex) of England (abt. 871 - 924) had children except Edmund. 

The 3rd wife’s son Eadred (Wessex) of England (923 - 955) was last to die of Eadweard’s sons. 

I think there will always be a bit of a mysterious climate surrounding the death of the second wife’s only two sons as the timing is suspicious but then again no proof to support the eldest brother had them removed. 

I believe I read that the eldest brother did take Edmund under his care in his education and upbringing? They were very close fighting at the great battle together. 

Edit See also: YouTube

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To the best of my knowledge, there are no contemporary sources about Edmund's upbringing. Æthelstan was head of the family after his father's death in 924. As such, it would have been normal for him to have made arrangements for the upbringing and education of all the young children of his father's third marriage, and it is quite likely they were brought up and educated in Æthelstan's household.

There is nothing unexpected about the two half-brothers, Æthelstan and Edmund, both fighting at Brunanburh.

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I appreciate all the work and collaboration done on this family group profile a really nice job the sisters of his father’s second wife and brothers I’m really very interested in but “Edmund” is special for so many reason. 

Answer 2

Coincidently, Paul Whitewick has just posted a YT video on what might be the discovery of Cerdic, the first king of Wessex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k6lyZz3QgU

Comments

Thank you 

Oddly enough the dark ages was never really my interest but after a past life experience it now has definitely peaked my interests…I always was drawn to the 19th century  definitely not the 10th 

Answer 3

Not sure if these links will help...http://www.friesian.com/perifran.htm#saxons1 

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/edwardelder.

html http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00020066&tree=LEO.

They are from Geni.com

Comments

Thank you

The timeline is nicely broken down and very helpful

Answer 4

I always thought it was Alfred the Great to technically be the first King of England.

Comments

The “House of Wessex” was a very powerful family no doubt the fierce loyalty to their group is palpable for me.

King Edmund’s grandfather "Alfred the Great” and “King of Wessex" 

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Alfred in the latter part of his reign, was styled King of the Anglo-Saxons, not king of England. There were significant parts of England that remained under the control of the "Danes”.

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You're right- I forgot about the Danelaw situation. :)

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Yeah I totally forgot about the Danelaw. Perhaps he may have possibly been the first with the vision of England as a whole?

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A good YouTube which I think the discussion will appreciate 

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I shall watch it right now. 

Answer 5

So I can recommend two podcasts

https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/, now around the back end of the seventeenth century.

https://www.thebritishhistorypodcast.com/, slower pace, now around the end of the eleventh century.

I'm now broadly caught up on both, so way forward from the period you are looking at, but i've skipped ahead on occaison and although it takes an episode or three to truly catch up, you should be able to find the ones you are looking for to give you a sense of what was what. Both carefully weigh up the available evidence from the time.

Comments

Thank you