Edgar the Atheling Biography and Timeline

Birth of son

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

Exile of Edgar the Atheling

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

Succession

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

Post-Hastings Royal Candidate

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

Role range: 1066-1066

Succession

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

Battle of Southwark

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Invasion of England

William cannot attack London directly so to decides to isolate it

Role range: 1066-1087

Siege of London

William cannot attack London directly so to decides to isolate it

Role range: 1066-1087

Siege of London

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Siege of Southwark

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Succession

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

Claim Abandoned

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

Role range: 1066-1066

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

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

Succession

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

Capture of London

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

Role range: 1066-1087

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

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

Homage

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Invasion of England

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Siege of London

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

Role range: 1066-1087

Succession

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

Succession

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

Homage

Forced to submit to William the Conqueror

Succession

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

Succession

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

Succession

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

Succession

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.

Succession

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

Exile of Edgar the Atheling

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

Exile of Edgar the Atheling

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

Invasion of England

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

Siege of York

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

Exile of Edgar the Atheling

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

Capture of York

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

Invasion of England

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

Invasion of England

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.

Invasion of England

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.

Invasion of England

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

Invasion of England

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