Edmund Ironside
Born in 989
Died on 30th of November 1016
Edmund (Ironside) was born into the Anglo Saxon House of Wessex in 989, he would later earn the appellation Ironside for his proven military prowess against the Danes with many battles and skirmishes. He was the second son born to King Ethelred (The Unready) and his first wife Aelfgifu, his elder brother Athelstan died in battle in 1014, which left Edmund as heir to the powerful kingdom of Wessex, his two other brothers were Edred and Egbert. King Ethelred had been deposed for a short while by Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark, but was later recalled by the Witan, he returned to England from Normandy in 1014 after the death of Sweyn Forkbeard.
Edmund was power hungry and a battle of wills ensued against his father, King Ethelred took revenge and ordered the brutal murder and execution of two of Edmund's supporters, a short while afterwards the Danes invaded England, headed by Canute who was the son of Sweyn Forkbeard, Edmund pledged his allegiance to his father to stand firm against the common enemy, and in 1016 Edmund raised an army in Mercia, Ethelred died in April 1016, and was later buried in old St Paul's Cathedral, which was lost during the Great Fire Of London. The people were happy for Edmund to succeed, but the Witan decided that Canute would be a far better king. However, Edmund did succeed King Ethelred and was destined to rule the kingdom of Wessex. Many bloody battles ensued, Edmund fought hard against the marauding Danes, his efforts paid off with several victories against Canute. Undeterred, Canute fought relentlessly with his armies and at the Battle of Assingdune he was finally victorious. The two leaders came to an agreement in Gloucestershire, whereby Edmund would continue to rule over Wessex, Essex, London and East Anglia, and Canute would take the lands north of the Thames, perhaps more importantly also agreeing that whichever of them should outlive the other, their lands should pass to the survivor. A couple of months later Edmund died whilst he was in Glastonbury, at the end of November in 1016, he was later buried in Glastonbury Abbey. Canute succeeded Edmund and was destined to rule as King of England.
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