Edred
Born in 923
Died on 23rd of November 955
Edred was born in 923 in Wessex, the youngest son of Edward I (The Elder) Saxon King, and his mother Eadgifu who was Edward's third wife. When King Edward died in 924 he was succeeded by his son Athelstan who was the first king to control the whole of England, in 939 however, he died and was buried next to his father. Edmund ascended to the throne in 939 aged just 18 years of age, however, Edmund was murdered in Gloucester in 946, Edred then ascended to the throne in 946 at the age of twenty three. His Coronation took place in Kingston-upon-Thames, and Edred received promises of allegiance from the Northern ruling Danes, but this did not last as they accepted Eric Blood Axe as their king, incensed at the breach, Edred led his army to Ripon, Eric Blood Axe's supporters again changed their allegiance and decided to follow Edred instead.
He had plenty of chances throughout his short reign to prove his military prowess, he had been challenged by the Scandinavians who ruled York, and finally saw off Eric Blood Axe, who was the last of the Danish kings that would rule York. Deeply religious, he was greatly influenced by his trusted advisor St Dunstan, who in later years oversaw the affairs of King Edred, and ultimately permitted the Danes to remain and be governed under their own laws.
Throughout his reign Edred was plagued by ill health, which would kill him in the end, he died on the 23rd November 955 in Somerset, he was later buried in Winchester. He had not married, and no heirs had been born, therefore he was succeeded by his nephew Edwy(the fair) who was the great grandson of Alfred The Great, however, he was also destined to die before his twentieth year in 959.
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