Late Anglo-saxon Period Kings :: essays research papers fc

Late Anglo-Saxon Period Kings of WessexBy the magazine Edward the Martyr took the throne in 975, Christianity was widespread throughout England and the rest of Britain. Edward was natural in 963, and was just entering his teenage years when his father, Edgar, died. He make a claim to the throne, as the first male child of the king. His half- fellow Aethelred, son of the third wife, made another claim (qtd in Britannia 1). Edward was murdered when he rode to visit Aethelred at Corfe is Dorset. Aethelreds vassals pretended to welcome Edward, and in doing so, stabbed him. It is guard to assume that Aethelred would not have instigated this incident, being a mere septet years of age at the time. Edward was later canonized by his brother and was known as King Edward the Martyr.Following the assassination of his brother, Edward, Aethelred was forced upon the face throne at the age of ten. Aethelred was married twice. His first wife, Elfigfu of Mercia, bore him no less than eleven chil dren. His second marriage to Emma of Normandy produced three children. Throughout his sway as King, he was hindered by the fact that he could not full trust the support of his generals at a time when the Danish invaders were a constant threat to the English. In an act of futile appeasement, Aethelred attempted to foreswear Danish cravings by paying what was known as Danegeld. Danegeld was an annual tax income believed to have been imposed originally to buy off Danish invaders in England (m-w 1). In 1009, however, the King of the Danes, Sweyn, decided that as well as property the territory, and monies he had relieve oneselfn from the English, that he would now take the whole country. cardinal years later, in 1013, Sweyn had control of England and Aethelred had fled to Normandy to seek protection from Emmas brother, Robert the Good. Sweyn died in 1014 and Aethelred reclaimed the English crown for another 2 years sooner his expiry at the age of 48 in 1016.Following the death of Aethelred, there was a bloody war of succession expected to take place between Sweyns son, Cnut, and Edmund II, Aethelreds son. This war, didnt take place, however, scarcely because Cnut figured he could made do with Denmark and Norway.