Edmund II of England
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Rank: | 17th |
Ruled: | April 23, 1016–November 30, 1016 |
Predecessor: | Ethelred II |
Date of Birth: | 989 |
Place of Birth: | Wessex, England |
Wife: | Edith |
Buried: | Glastonbury Abbey |
Date of Death: | November 30, 1016 |
Parents: | Ethelred II and Aelgifu |
Edmund II (c. 989 – November 30, 1016) was King of England for several months in 1016. He was a son of King Ethelred II and Aelgifu of Northampton; Edward the Confessor was his half-brother. He was known as Ironside for his military prowess.
He was elected king of England by the population of London following his father's death in April 1016, but his rival, Canute the Great, enjoyed greater support throughout the country.
Edmund married Ealdgyth (Edith) of East Anglia (born c. 986), the daughter of Mocar and Edgitha, in 1015.
The known children of Edmund and Ealdgyth (Edith) are:
- Edward the Exile "Aetheling" (1016–1057), who was born in Wessex and died in London and who married Agatha around the year 1035.
- Edmund (born c. 1017 in Wessex).
Edmund II was eventually defeated by the Danes, and was allowed by Canute to keep the kingdom of Wessex, on the understanding that whichever of them survived the other would become ruler of the whole of England.
Shortly after making this agreement, Edmund II died, on November 30, 1016, and was buried at Glastonbury. Some say he was stabbed in the bowels while going to the privy.
According to legend, Truelove Eyre was King Edmund's grandson, though this is impossible to confirm and many historians doubt that it is true. At the same time, many other historians (and a number of laypeople) say that historical occurences around the time period (the Eyres being awarded lands in Derby by William the Conqueror, supposedly Truelove's cousin) seem to indicate that Truelove was indeed a direct relation of the late king.