King Eadwig Family Tree & Biography (941-959)

 

King Eadwig was a member of the House of Wessex. He was the eldest son of King Edmund I and was passed over when his father died as he was considered too young to rule. He became King following the death of his uncle, King Eadred. 

Contents

King Eadwig Family Tree Image
King Eadwig Family Tree in Table Form
King Eadwig Short Biography

 

King Eadwig Family Tree Image showing:

grandparents, parents, sibling and wife

 

King Eadwig Family Tree in Table Form showing:

grandparents, parents, sibling and wife

 

 

King Eadwig Short Biography

Early Years

King Eadwig was born in 941 the eldest son of King Edmund I and Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury. He was given the nickname Eadwig the Fair due to his good looks. Eadwig’s brother Edgar was born in 943.

In 946, Eadwig’s father, was murdered by Leofa a thief who had been exiled. Eadwig, aged 5 years, was considered too young to take the throne so his uncle Eadred became King of England.

Eadwig and his brother Edgar were cared for by the Nobleman Aethelstan and his wife and were educated by Aethelwald, the Abbot of Abingdon.

King Eadwig of England

On 23rd November 955, King Eadred died and Eadwig succeeded as King. However, he did not behave like a king and upset the nobles and church elders. He upset the influential abbot, Dunstan, when he disappeared during his coronation feast only to be found in a compromising position with a young lady, Aelfgifu, and her mother.

Soon afterwards, King Eadwig married Aelfgifu but the marriage was dissolved three years later on the grounds of consanguinity.

King Eadwig set about removing those noblemen he disliked and the abbot Dunstan was exiled, or removed himself to Flanders. The lords of Mercia and Northumbria refused to accept Eadwig as King and acknowledged Eadwig’s brother Edgar as their ruler. King Eadwig died on 1st October 959 and was succeeded by his brother Edgar.

 

Published Apr 14 2022 – Updated – Dec 4 2024