General Notes

REFN: 1424AN
Alias:<ALIA> /Ironside/
REFN: P1424
Edmund II Ironside, King of England
Born : 989
Acceded: APR 1016, St.Paul's Cathedral, London, England
Died: 30 NOV 10 16, killed
Interred: Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset
Notes:
Reigned Apr-Nov 1016
murdered at the instigation of his brother-in-law Edric
Father: , AEthelred II the Unready, King of England, b. ABT 968
Mother: , Elfreda (AElfgifu), b. C IR 963
Married 1015, Malmsbury, Wiltshire to , Ealdgyth
Child 1: Atheling, Ed ward the Outlaw, b. ABT 1016
Child 2: , Edmund, b. 1016
Born in 989 and succe eded his father in April 1016. In this year he foug
ht six battles, but throug h treachery he was completely overthrown at Ass
andun, in Essex. He and Canute the Dane agreed to diviDe the kingdom. He w
as chosen king of England by the Londoners on his father's death, April, 1
016, while Canute was elected at Sou thampton by the Witan. Edmund hasti
ly levied an army in the west, defeated Canute twice, raised the sie
ge of London, and again routed the Danes. Levying a fresh army, he defeat
ed them at Otford, his last victory. At Ashingdon in Essex, after a
desperate fight, he was routed. By compromise with Canute, the latter reta
ined Mercia and Northumbria, Edmund all the south and the headship, the su
rvivor to succeed to the whole. A few weeks later Edmund died, in 1016, a
nd Canute became King of England without a rival. It is said that
the traitorous Edric Streona perhaps murdered Edmund on November 30, 101
6, shortly after peace was made. Edmund II. married Ealgyth (Algitha),
widow of Sigefrith the Dane. She died in 1014. Edmund II, Ironside (1016 A
D) Edmund was King of England for only a few months. After the death of hi
s
father, Æthelred II, in April 1016, Edmund led the defense of the ci
ty of London against the invad ing Knut Sveinsson (Canute), and was procla
imed
king by the Londoners. Meanwhile, the Witan (Council), meeting at Southamp
ton, chose Canute as King. After a series of inconclusive military engagem
ents, in which Edmund performed bri lliantly and earned the nickname "Iron
side", he defeated the Danish forces at Oxford, Kent, but was routed by Ca
nute's forces at Ashingdon, Essex. A subsequent peace agreement was mad
e, with Edmund controlling Wessex and Canute controlling Mercia and Northu
mbria. It was also agreed that whoever survived the other would take contr
ol of the whole realm. Unfortunately for Edmund, he died in November, 101
6, transferring the Kingship of All England completely to Canute.
Edmund II or Eadmund II (c. 988/993 – November 30, 1016), King of Engla
nd from April 23 to November 30, 1016, was surnamed "Ironside" for his eff
orts to fend off the Danish invasion led by King Canute.
Edmund was the second son of King Æthelred II and his first wife, Ælfla
ed of Northumbria. He had three brothers, the elder being Æthelstan, and t
he younger two being Ædred and Ecgbert. His mother was dead by 996, and h
is father remarried twice more.
Æthelstan died in 1014, leaving Edmund as heir. A power-struggle began bet
ween Edmund and his father, and in 1015 King Æthelred had two of Edmund
's allies, Sigeferth and Morcar, executed. Edmund then took Morcar's wido
w, Ældgyth, from the nunnery where she had been imprisoned and married h
er in defiance of his father. During this time, Canute the Great attack
ed England with his forces.
Æthelred II, who had earlier been stricken ill, died on April 23, 1016. Ed
mund succeeded to the throne, with little support from the London nobilit
y. Canute, however, enjoyed greater support throughout England, especial
ly from the Southampton nobility.
When Edmund forcefully recovered Wessex from Canute’s previous invasi
on in 1015, Canute responded by laying siege to London; however, Edmund
’s defence was successful. Despite the victory, conflict continued until E
dmund was defeated, but not killed, on October 18 by Canute at Ashingd
on in Essex. (See Battle