Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Edgar was the grandson of Edmund Ironside, who was King of the English for about six months in 1016, and son of Edward the Exile, who had been banished by King Cnut in that same year when only six months old. Edward the Confessor discovered that the Exile was alive and invited him back to England. In 1057 he returned, bringing his children. Within days he was dead, probably murdered by order of Harold Godwinsson. The Confessor brought up the children, Edgar, Margaret and Christina, and nominated Edgar to succeed him, that is, made him the Atheling. When the Confessor died the Atheling was only thirteen or fourteen years old and the witan wisely preferred the mature and competent Harold to take the throne. After Harold's death at Senlac Hill Edgar was proclaimed king, but he sensibly submitted to William the Conqueror who treated him well. Nonetheless Edgar joined Edwin and Morcar in fruitless rebellion in 1068 and was forced to flee to Scotland. In 1069 he joined with the Danes but again had to take refuge in Scotland. His involvement with various men who attempted unsuccessfully to take the throne in future years was not, amazingly, the cause of his death. He was still alive in 1125, in his seventies, and died either on his estates in Hertfordshire or, once again, in Scotland.

See also: Danes ; Edward the Confessor ; Edwin ; Harold Godwinsson ; King Cnut ; Morcar ; Senlac Hill ; William the Conqueror ; witan

Related Reading:

• Hastings 1066 (Revised Edition)- The Fall of Saxon England
  (Campaign 13 )