Edgar, King of England, 943 or 944-975
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Information for Authority record
- Britannica online, January 30, 2024(Edgar (born 943/944-died July 8, 975) king of the Mercians and Northumbrians from 957 who became king of the West Saxons, or Wessex, in 959 and is reckoned as king of all England from that year; The younger son of Edmund I, king of the English, Edgar was made king of the Mercians and Northumbrians in place of Eadwig, his brother, who was deposed. On Eadwig's death (Oct. 1, 959), Edgar succeeded to the West Saxon throne)
- Oxford dictionary of national biography, viewed online January 30, 2024(Edgar [called Edgar Pacificus] (943/4-975), king of England, was the younger son of King Edmund (920/21-946) and his first wife, Ælfgifu; 957, in which year he became king of the Mercians; succeeded to the kingship of the West Saxons on the death of Eadwig (1 October 959); in 973, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Edgar was consecrated king on 11 May (Pentecost), at Bath; died on 8 July 975, and was buried at Glastonbury Abbey)
- Eadgar the Peaceful, King of England; other name: (King) Edgar; life dates: 943-975; son of King Edmund the Magnificent; King of Mercia 957-959; and of all England 959-975 ( (The British Museum collection database, viewed January 30, 2024) )
- Wallace, Albany. Elfrida, 1850:Dramatis personæ (Edgar the Saxon, King of England) page 1 (King Edgar)
- Wikipedia, January 30, 2024(Edgar, King of England; Edgar (or Eadgar; c.944 - 8 July 975) was King of the English from 959 until his death; reign 1 October 959 - 8 July 975; born 943/944, England; King of Mercia, 957 to 959)
- Ravenscroft, E. King Edgar and Alfreda, 1677:t.p. (King Edgar)
- Encyc. Brit., 15th ed.(Edgar, also spelled Eadgar; b. 943/944; d. 975; King of the English)
- Encyc. Amer., 1977(Edgar, 943-975, king of England)
- Collier's encyc., 1977(Edgar, also Eadgar, 944-975; king of the English and known as Edgar the Peaceful; d. 7/8/975)
- LC in OCLC, 8/29/83(hdg.: Edgar, King of England, 944-975; usage: King Edgar)
- Wikipedia, 13 Mar. 2008(Reign October 1, 959--July 8, 975)
Wikipedia description:
Edgar (or Eadgar; c. 944 – 8 July 975), also known as Edgar the Peaceful, the Peacemaker and the Peaceable, was King of the English from 959 until his death in 975. He became king of all England on his brother Eadwig's death. He was the younger son of King Edmund I and his first wife, Ælfgifu. A detailed account of Edgar's reign is not possible, because only a few events were recorded by chroniclers and monastic writers, who were more interested in recording the activities of the leaders of the church. Edgar mainly followed the political policies of his predecessors, but there were major changes in the religious sphere. The English Benedictine Reform, which he strongly supported, became a dominant religious and social force. It is seen by historians as a major achievement, and it was accompanied by a literary and artistic flowering, mainly associated with Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester. Monasteries aggressively acquired estates from lay landowners with Edgar's assistance, leading to disorder when he died and former owners sought to recover their lost property, sometimes by force. Edgar's major administrative reform was the introduction of a standardised coinage in the early 970s to replace the previous decentralised system. He also issued legislative codes which mainly concentrated on improving procedures for enforcement of the law. England had suffered from Viking invasions for over a century when Edgar came to power, but there were none during his reign, which fell in a lull in attacks between the mid-950s and the early 980s. After his death the throne was disputed between the supporters of his two surviving sons; the elder one, Edward the Martyr, was chosen with the support of Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Three years later Edward was murdered; he was succeeded by his younger half-brother, Æthelred the Unready. Later chroniclers presented Edgar's reign as a golden age when England was free from external attacks and internal disorder, especially compared with Æthelred's disastrous rule. Modern historians see Edgar's reign as the pinnacle of Anglo-Saxon culture, but they disagree about his political legacy, and some see the disorders following his death as a natural reaction to his overbearing control.
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