Biography
Biography
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Eadred (King of the English 946-955)

 Borncirca 923   Born At
 Died23 November 955  Buried AtWinchester
 FatherEDWARD (the Elder, King of West Saxons, 899-924)  MotherEdgiva
SucceededEdmund (I, King of the English 939-946)Preceded Eadwig (King of the English 955-959)
 Royal House Wessex  
 Borncirca 923 / 
 Died23 November 955 / Winchester
adred was the King of Wessex from May 946 until his death in 955. He died in early age possibly due to a digestive illness that he suffered from. He devoted his life to God and ensured his palace was a school of virtue. He was threatened by the invasion of Eric Bloodaxe who had been deposed from Norway. Bloodaxe was a ferocious Norse Viking who set himself up as the King of Northumbria in York. In response to the invasion Eadred travelled north and ravaged the area, a common practice used to deny supplies to the enemy. The Northumbrians abandoned Eric Bloodaxe as they saw in Eadred someone more formidable than the Viking. Eadred had no children so at his death Eadwig was chosen as king being the oldest child in the natural line of the House of Wessex. Eadwig became king at the age of sixteen.

Related Episodes

Viking Invasions (click here)

Viking Invasions (click here)

Parents

Fantasy image of EDWARD (the Elder, King of West Saxons, 899-924)
EDWARD (the Elder, King of West Saxons, 899-924)
Fantasy image of Edgiva
Edgiva

 

Family Tree Details

Father:EDWARD (the Elder, King of West Saxons, 899-924) (b.871? - d.924)
Mother:Edgiva
Show Graphical Tree
 Eadred (King of the English 946-955) (b.923? - d.955)
 Eadred (King of the English 946-955) (b.923? - d.955)

See Also

    People

    Places

    Other

    Timeline

    946(Age: 23yrs)

    Eadred became King of Wessex. He followed his brother Edmund who was murdered. Edmund left two sons, Eadwig and Edgar, who were both too young to rule.

    948(Age: 25yrs)

    Eadred destroys the monastery at Ripon. [1]

    954(Age: 31yrs)

    Eadred defeated Eric Bloodaxe the Dane that had ruled the kingdom of York on and off for several years. Eric was killed and Eadred took control of the kingdom of York. Eadred nominated Oswulf as the new ruler of Northumbria. [2]

    955(Age: 32yrs)

    Eadred died at an early age possibly due to a digestive illness. He was followed by Eadwig.

    Eadwig became the King of England after the death of Eadred, his uncle.

    956

    Eadwig sent Dunstan into exile. The reason for this is that Dunstan had caught Eadwig and Aelgifu together before they were married and at a time when Eadwig should have been attending an important meeting. Dunstan must have upset Eadwig at this point and was sent into exile.

    On this day in history:

    TimeRef Shield Designer

    Use this medieval shield designer to create your coat of arms. Click the image below to start your design.

    TimeRef Shield Designer

    Use this medieval shield designer to create your coat of arms. Click the image below to start your design.

    3D Virtual Reconstructions

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

    More medieval people

    Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

    Page Navigation

    Selection of references used:

    • 1: Richard Muir, Old Yorkshire, ISBN:0-7181-2847-8
    • 2: C.W.Previte-Orton, The shorter Cambridge Medieval History

      See Also

        People

        Places

        Other