Edgar the Atheling Biography

Born in Hungary, son of Edward the Exile, son of King Edmund II Ironside, last male member of the royal house of Cerdic of Wessex

The childless King of England, Edmund Ironsides half-brother Edward the Confessor, who had only recently become aware that his nephew was still alive, summoned Edward back to England with his family

Forced to submit to William the Conqueror

Chosen King by Morcar & his brother Edwin after the Battle of Hastings

Following Harolds death at the Battle of Hastings against the invading Normans in October, the Witanagemot assembled in London and elected Edgar king.

The Witanagemot elects Harold Godwinson, the man best placed to defend the country against the competing foreign claimants, to succeed Edward.

When King Edward died in January 1066 Edgar was still in his early teens, too young to be an effective military leader. Supported by the Archbishops of Canterbury & York after the Battle of Hastings.

Supported by the Archbishops of Canterbury & York after the Battle of Hastings. Chosen King by Morcar & his brother Edwin after the Battle of Hastings

The Witanagemot elects Harold Godwinson, the man best placed to defend the country against the competing foreign claimants, to succeed Edward

Edgar becomes the leading surviving royal candidate considered by English leaders after Harold's death at Hastings.

Following Harolds death at the Battle of Hastings against the invading Normans in October, the Witanagemot assembled in London and elected Edgar king

William attacks some of Edgars forces & then moves upstream to Berkshire

William cannot attack London directly so to decides to isolate it

William cannot attack London directly so to decides to isolate it

William attacks some of Edgars forces & then moves upstream to Berkshire

William attacks some of Edgars forces & then moves upstream to Berkshire

When William crossed the Thames at Wallingford he was met by Stigand, who now abandoned Edgar and submitted to the invader

Edgar, the Earls of Northumbria & Mercia & the Archbishops of Canterbury & York submit to William I the Conqueror

Edgar's supporters abandon effective resistance and he accepts William's authority before the Norman coronation.

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

Edgar, the Earls of Northumbria & Mercia & the Archbishops of Canterbury & York submit to William I the Conqueror

Edgar, the Earls of Northumbria & Mercia & the Archbishops of Canterbury & York submit to William I the Conqueror

Edgar, the Earls of Northumbria & Mercia & the Archbishops of Canterbury & York submit to William I the Conqueror. Edgar, the Earls of Northumbria & Mercia & the Archbishops of Canterbury & York submit

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

In early December the remaining members of the Witan in London met and resolved to take the young uncrowned king out to meet William to submit to him at Berkhamsted, quietly setting aside Edgars election

As the Normans closed in on London, Edgars key supporters in the city began negotiating with William

William kept Edgar in his custody and took him, along with other English leaders, to his court in Normandy

Leads an unsucesful uprising against William the Conqueror. Forced to flee to Scotland & then to Flanders

The Normans recapture York & Edgar takes up exile in the Court of Malcolm III. Edgar helps Sweyn capture York, assisted by a Danish fleet under Osbern

Forced into exile in Lothian, where his sister Margaret had married Malcolm III

After early successes the rebels are defeated by William at York and Edgar again sought refuge with Malcolm

Malcolm marries Edgars sister Margaret and agrees to support Edgar in his attempt to reclaim the English throne. Edgar the Atheling invades England from Scotland, supported by the Scottish King.

The arrival of a fleet sent by King Sweyn of Denmark triggered a fresh wave of English uprisings in various parts of the country, Edgar and the other exiles sailed to the Humber, where they linked up with Northumbrian rebels and the Danes.

The combined rebel forces overwhelm the Normans at York and take control of Northumbria.

A small seaborne raid which Edgar led into Lindsey ended in disaster and he escaped with only a handful of followers to rejoin the main army

Malcolm marries Edgars sister Margaret and agrees to support Edgar in his attempt to reclaim the English throne

Leads a 2nd unsuccessful rebellion against William the Conqueror

A small seaborne raid which Edgar led into Lindsey ended in disaster and he escaped with only a handful of followers to rejoin the main army

Late in the year William fought his way into Northumbria and occupied York, buying off the Danes and devastating the surrounding country. The combined rebel forces overwhelm the Normans at York and take control of Northumbria

Late in the year William fought his way into Northumbria and occupied York, buying off the Danes and devastating the surrounding country

Late in the year William fought his way into Northumbria and occupied York, buying off the Danes and devastating the surrounding country

Edgar returns to Scotland

Early in 1070 William moves against Edgar and other English leaders who had taken refuge with their remaining followers in a marshy region, perhaps Holderness, and put them to flight

Edgar remains in Scotland until 1072, when William invaded Scotland and forced King Malcolm to submit to his overlordship

Takes up residence in Flanders, whose count, Robert the Frisian, was hostile to the Normans

Edgar remains in Scotland until 1072, when William invaded Scotland and forced King Malcolm to submit to his overlordship

Captured at York & kept at the court of Normandy, making peace with the Normans

Leads a Norman expedition & captures Apulia

Leads a Norman expedition to Scotland

Edgar the Atheling deposes the usurper Donaldbane in favour of his nephew Edgar