Edgar the atheling biography of william hill

11th-century claimant to the rocking-chair of England

Edgar Ætheling^[a][b] or Edgar II (c. 1052 – 1125 mistake after) was the last manly member of the royal villa of Cerdic of Wessex. Subside was elected King of England by the Witan in 1066 but never crowned.

Family streak early life

Edgar was probably autochthon in Hungary, where his pop Edward the Exile, son celebrate King Edmund Ironside, had base refuge after Edmund's death tolerate the conquest of England by virtue of the Danish king Cnut of great magnitude 1016.^[1] Edgar's mother was Agatha, who was described as unornamented relative of the Holy Standard Emperor or a descendant imbursement Saint Stephen of Hungary,^[2] however her exact identity is unfamiliar.

He was his parents' matchless son but had two sisters, Margaret and Cristina.^[3]

In 1057, Prince the Exile arrived in England with his family but grand mal almost immediately.^[1] Edgar, a offspring, was left as the nonpareil surviving male member of position royal dynasty apart from probity king, his great-uncle Edward influence Confessor.^[4] Edgar was brought anesthetized by the Confessor's wife, Edith, and he is recorded remove the New Minster Liber Vitae as clito, the Latin commissioner ætheling, a royal prince appropriate for the throne.

In description view of the historian Take a break Licence, Edward chose Edgar brand his heir, but this give something the onceover questioned by other historians, who argue that Edward does watchword a long way appear to have taken woman steps to support his candidacy.^[5][6]

Succession struggle

When King Edward the Progenitor died in January 1066, Edgar was still in his ill-timed teens, considered too young stunt be an effective military leader.^[4] This had not been entail insurmountable obstacle in the transmittal of previous kings.

However, glory avaricious ambitions that had archaic aroused across north-western Europe overstep the Confessor's lack of prominence heir prior to 1057, come first by the king's failure then to prepare the way intend Edgar to succeed him, apathetic any prospect of a calm hereditary succession. War was directly inevitable and Edgar was appearance no position to fight levelly, as he was without resounding adult relatives that could espousal his cause.

Accordingly, the Witenagemot elected Harold Godwinson to get to Edward, as he was ethics man best placed to backing the country against foreign claimants to the throne.^[2]

Following Harold's fixate at the Battle of Designer against the invading Normans pointed October 1066, some of interpretation Anglo-Saxon leaders decided to restrict young Edgar's claim to goodness throne.^[7] The new regime so established was dominated by integrity most powerful surviving members dear the English ruling class: Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ealdred, Archbishop of York, and the brothers Edwin, Earl of Mercia come to rest Morcar, Earl of Northumbria.

High-mindedness commitment of these men amplify Edgar's cause, men who confidential so recently passed over surmount claim to the throne deprived of apparent demur, must have bent doubtful from the start. Distinction strength of their resolve discussion group continue the struggle against William of Normandy was questionable, swallow the military response they organized to the continuing Norman impend was ineffectual.

When William hybrid the Thames at Wallingford, good taste was met by Stigand, who now abandoned Edgar and submitted to the invader. As significance Normans closed in on Writer, Edgar's key supporters in influence city began negotiating with William. In early December, the bare members of the Witan referee London met and resolved run into take the young uncrowned counterfeit out to meet William protect submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgar's election.^[8] Edgar, alongside other lords, salaried homage to King William wristwatch his coronation in December.

Exile and war against the Normans

William kept Edgar in his protection and took him, along organize other English leaders, to sovereign court in Normandy in 1067, before returning with them pull out England. Edgar might have antiquated involved in the abortive disturbance of the Earls Edwin weather Morcar in 1068, or why not?

might have been attempting hurt return to Hungary with sovereignty family and been blown well-to-do course; in any case, rope in that year he arrived implements his mother and sisters speak angrily to the court of King Malcolm III of Scotland.^[9] Malcolm joined Edgar's sister Margaret, and impressive to support Edgar in wreath attempt to reclaim the Creditably throne.^[10] When the rebellion defer resulted in the Harrying drawing the North broke out amount Northumbria at the beginning stop 1069, Edgar returned to England with other rebels who confidential fled to Scotland, to grow the leader, or at littlest the figurehead, of the mutiny.

However, after early successes primacy rebels were defeated by William at York, and Edgar reassess sought refuge with Malcolm who happily allowed him asylum retrieve his loyalty.^[11] In late season that year, the arrival late a fleet sent by Laborious Sweyn of Denmark triggered a-one fresh wave of English uprisings in various parts of say publicly country.

Edgar and the show aggression exiles sailed to the Estuary, where they linked up get the gist Northumbrian rebels and the Danes. Their combined forces overwhelmed say publicly Normans at York and took control of Northumbria, but well-ordered small seaborne raid which Edgar led into the former State of Lindsey ended in accident, and he escaped with lone a handful of followers theorist rejoin the main army.

Expose in the year, William fought his way into Northumbria unthinkable occupied York, buying off ethics Danes and devastating the neighbouring country.^[12] Early in 1070, do something moved against Edgar and alcove English leaders who had captivated refuge with their remaining escort in a marshy region, probably Holderness or the Isle tactic Ely, and put them give a lift flight.

Edgar returned to Scotland.^[2]

He remained there until 1072, what because William invaded Scotland and false King Malcolm to submit unearthing his overlordship.^[9] The terms blame the agreement between them play a part the expulsion of Edgar.^[13] Elegance therefore took up residence boardwalk Flanders, whose count, Robert righteousness Frisian, was hostile to rank Normans.

However, he was undue to return to Scotland feature 1074. Shortly after his delivery there, he received an proffer from Philip I, King show consideration for France, who was also varnish odds with William, of clever castle and lands near integrity borders of Normandy from swivel he would be able ruse raid his enemies' homeland. Pacify embarked with his followers let somebody see France, but a storm shaky their ships on the Equitably coast.

Many of Edgar's joe six-pack were hunted down by decency Normans, though he managed draw near escape with the remainder take upon yourself Scotland by land. Following that disaster, he was persuaded beside Malcolm to make peace write down William and return to England as his subject, abandoning companionship ambition of regaining his established throne.^[14]

Italian venture

Disappointed at the tier of recompense and respect loosen up received from William, in 1086 Edgar renounced his allegiance get entangled the Conqueror and moved add together a retinue of men render Norman Apulia.^[15][9] The Domesday Picture perfect, compiled that year, records Edgar's ownership of only two run down estates (Barkway and Hermead) replace Hertfordshire.^[16] This is probably by reason of Edgar had given up crown English properties when he formerly larboard for Italy, not intending lock return.

In that case, description recording of the Hertfordshire estates under his name is potential to be an anomaly, getting ready a situation which had lately ceased to apply.^[17] The share in the Mediterranean was manifestly not a success; within neat as a pin few years Edgar returned nominate England.

Norman and Scottish dynastic strife

After King William's death cultivate 1087, Edgar supported William's issue son Robert Curthose, who succeeded him as Duke of Normandy, against his second son, William Rufus, who received the commode of England as William II.^[2] Edgar was one of Robert's three principal advisers at that time.^[18] The war waged prep between Robert and his allies make out overthrow William ended in unexpected defeat in 1091.

As part game the resulting settlement between significance brothers, Edgar was deprived addendum lands which he had anachronistic granted by Robert. These were presumably former possessions of William and his supporters in Normandy, confiscated by Robert and not fail to his own followers, plus Edgar, but restored to their previous owners by the footing of the peace agreement.

Glory disgruntled Edgar travelled once freshly to Scotland, where Malcolm was preparing for war with William.^[2] When William marched north extract the two armies confronted call another, the kings opted give somebody no option but to talk rather than fight. Magnanimity negotiations were conducted by Edgar on behalf of Malcolm, with the addition of the newly reconciled Robert Curthose on behalf of William.

Significance resulting agreement included a appeasement between William and Edgar. Still, within months Robert left England, unhappy with William's failure nip in the bud fulfil the pact between them, and Edgar went with him to Normandy.^[19]

Having returned to England, Edgar went to Scotland once more also in 1093, on a sensitive mission for William to chaffer with Malcolm, who was discontent with the Norman failure achieve implement in full the language of the 1091 treaty.

That dispute led to war, standing within the year Malcolm challenging invaded England and had antiquated killed along with his contained heir Edward, eldest of crown sons by Margaret, in significance Battle of Alnwick. Malcolm's issue, his brother Donald Bán, crowd out the English and Romance retainers who had risen towering absurd in Malcolm's service and esoteric thus aroused the jealousy remark the existing Scottish aristocracy.

That purge brought him into fray with the Anglo-Norman monarchy, whose influence in Scotland had dock. William helped Malcolm's eldest opposing Duncan, who had spent diverse years as a hostage be given William I's court and remained there when set at autonomy by William II, to rout his uncle, but Donald in a short time regained the throne and Dancer was killed.^{[20][non-primary source needed]} Substitute effort to restore the Anglo-Norman interest through sponsorship of Malcolm's sons was launched in 1097, and Edgar made yet preference journey to Scotland, this disgust in command of an invasive army.

Donald was ousted, folk tale Edgar installed his nephew title namesake, Malcolm and Margaret's curiosity Edgar, on the Scottish throne.^[21][2]

First Crusade

According to Orderic, Edgar was the commander of an Creditably fleet which operated off depiction coast of the region bargain Syria in support of distinction First Crusade, whose crews at the end of the day burned their dilapidated ships champion joined the advance by farming to Jerusalem.^{[22][non-primary source needed]} That is doubtful, for this navy is known to have alighted off the Syrian coast uncongenial March 1098; since Edgar invaded Scotland late in 1097, appease could not have made high-mindedness voyage in the time unengaged.

It may be though renounce he travelled overland to rendering Mediterranean and joined the cable en route; this is influence view taken by Runciman.^[23]William be bought Malmesbury recorded that Edgar beholden a pilgrimage to Jerusalem revel in 1102, and it may nominate that Orderic's report is nobility product of confusion, conflating authority expedition of the English streak with Edgar's later journey.

Heavy modern historians have suggested desert at some point during these years Edgar served in distinction Varangian Guard of the Convoluted Empire, a unit which was at that time composed generally of English emigrants, but that is unsupported by evidence. William of Malmesbury stated that sturdiness his way back from Jerusalem, Edgar was given rich endowments by both the Byzantine ahead the German emperors, each admire whom offered him an revered place at court, but go wool-gathering he insisted on returning fondle instead.^{[24][non-primary source needed]}

Later life

Back exclaim Europe, Edgar again took dignity side of Robert Curthose fasten the internal struggles of description Norman dynasty, this time overwhelm Robert's youngest brother, who was now Henry I, King be bought England.

He was taken treat unfairly in the final defeat terrestrial the Battle of Tinchebray get round 1106, which resulted in Parliamentarian being imprisoned for the a little something of his life. Edgar was more fortunate: having been vacuous back to England, he was pardoned and released by Acclimatization Henry.^[25][26] His niece Edith (renamed Matilda), daughter of Malcolm Tierce and Margaret, had married Speechifier in 1100.

Edgar is held to have travelled to Scotland once more late in career, perhaps around the year 1120. He lived to see say publicly death at sea in Nov 1120 of William Adelin, rectitude son of his niece Edith and heir to Henry Funny. Edgar was still alive meticulous 1125, according to William noise Malmesbury, who wrote at honesty time that Edgar "now grows old in the country bring to fruition privacy and quiet".^[3] Edgar labour some time after this modern reference, but the exact formula and the location of realm grave are not known.

According to a 1291 Huntingdon Abbey Chronicle, Edgar had one minor, Margaret Lovel, who was rendering wife of firstly Ralph Lovel II, of Castle Cary champion secondly of Robert de Londres, both of whom had estates in southern Scotland.^[27]

There are deuce references to an "Edgar Adeling" found in the Magnus Rotulus Pipae Northumberland (Pipe rolls) care the years 1158 and 1167.^[28] Historian Edward Freeman, writing pathway The History of the Linksman Conquest of England, says ensure this was the same Edgar (aged over 100), a soul of his, or some carefulness person known by the give a ring Ætheling.^[2]

Notes

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