Born – 921
Died – 26th May 946
Father – Edward the Elder (874 – 924)
Mother – Eadgifu of Kent (c902 – c966)
Spouses – m 940 – Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury (c902 – 944); m. 944 Aethelflaed of Damerham (c920 – c975)
Children – King Eadwig (941 – 959), King Edgar (943 – 975)
King of England – 939 – 946
Predecessor – Aethelstan – 924 – 939
Successor –Eadred – 946 – 955
921 (during)
King Edmund I was born to King Edward the Elder, and Eadgifu daughter of the Ealdorman of Kent. Eadgifu was Edward the Elder’s third wife.
923 (during)
Edmund’s brother, Eadred, was born to Edward and Eadgifu.
924 (17th July)
Edmund’s father, King Edward the Elder, died leading the army against a Welsh-Mercian rebellion.
924 (17th July)
Although the monarch often suggested their successor, it was the Witan that decided who would succeed to the throne. Around half the Witan wanted Aethelstan’s half-brother, Aelfweard to succeed as King, while the other half wanted Aethelstan. It was decided that Aelfweard would rule Wessex while Aethelstan would rule Mercia.
924 (2nd August)
Aelfweard of Wessex died and Aethelstan became King of Mercia and Wessex.
925 (4th September)
King Aethelstan was crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Athelm, Archbishop of Canterbury.
937 (October)
Battle of Brunanburh
Edmund fought in this battle between the English led by King Athelstan, and the combined forces of Constantine of Scotland, Owain of Strathclyde and Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin. The battle lasted all day but King Aethelstan and the English were victorious.
Edmund fought in this battle between the English led by King Athelstan, and the combined forces of Constantine of Scotland, Owain of Strathclyde and Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin. The battle lasted all day but King Aethelstan and the English were victorious.
939 (27th October)
Aethelstan died at Gloucester. As he had no children, Edmund succeeded to the throne as King Edmund I.
939 (29th November)
Edmund was crowned King of England at Kingston upon Thames.
940 (around)
King Edmund I married Aelfgifu the benefactor of Shaftesbury Abbey.
940 (early)
The Viking Olaf III Guthfrithson, with the support of the Archbishop of York, Wulfstan, conquered Northumbria and invaded Mercia.
941 (during)
A son, Eadwig, was born to Edmund and Aelfgifu.
941 (during)
Oda was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
941 (during)
Olaf III Guthfrithson of Northumbria and Mercia was killed during a raid. He was succeeded by Olaf Sihtricson who was not as strong as his predecessor. Edmund attacked and was able to take back Mercia. Olaf retained control of York.
943 (during)
A son, Edgar, was born to Edmund and Aelfgifu.
943 (during)
Constantine, King of Scotland gave up the throne to become a monk. He was succeeded by Malcolm I.
943 (during)
Edmund made an alliance with King Olaf of York and became his godfather.
944 (during)
Edmund re-took Northumbria from the Vikings.
944 (during)
King Olaf of York was unable to retain his throne and so left England for Ireland where he became King of Dublin.
944 (18th May)
Aelfgifu, Edmund’s wife, died.
944 (after May)
Edmund married Aethelflaed of Damerham, daughter of the Ealdorman of Essex.
945 (during)
King Edmund I conquered Strathclyde and formed an alliance with Malcolm I of Scotland. Malcolm gained territory in exchange for military support.
945 (Summer)
Edmund’s nephew, Louis, son of Charles the Simple of France and Eadgifu, Edmund’s half-sister, was captured by Duke Hugh of Normandy. Edmund sent threatening messages to Hugh which secured the release of Louis.
946 (26th May)
Edmund I was murdered in Pucklechurch by Leofa, a thief who he had exiled. He was succeeded by his brother Eadred because his own sons were too young to take the throne.
First published Jul 2016, Re-published Jul 21 2020 @ 2:30 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2016 – 2021). King Edmund I of England 921 – 946. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/edmund-i-921-946/ Last accessed [date]