Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder
Illustration of Edward from Cassell's History of England, c. 1902
King of the Anglo-Saxons (more...)
Reign	26 October 899 — 17 July 924
Coronation	8 June 900
Predecessor	Alfred
Successor	Athelstan (or Ælfweard, disputed)
Born	(874-06-16)16 June 874 Winchester, Hampshire, Wessex
Died	17 July 924(924-07-17) (aged 50) Farndon, Cheshire, Mercia
Burial	New Minster, Winchester, later transferred to Hyde Abbey
Spouse	Ecgwynn (m. 893; div. 899) Ælfflæd (m. 899; d. 919) Eadgifu of Kent (m. 919)
Issue among others	Athelstan, King of the English Edith, Queen of York, Dublin and Northumbria Ælfweard Edwin Eadgifu, Queen of the West Franks Eadhild, Duchess of the Franks Eadgyth, Queen of the East Franks Edmund I, King of the English Edred, King of the English Eadburh
House	Wessex
Father	Alfred the Great
Mother	Ealhswith of Mercia
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Edward (16 June 874 — 17 July 924) nicknamed the Elder or the Great was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the oldest child of the West Saxon king, Alfred, and his wife, Ealhswith of Mercia. During Edward's reign, Wessex greatly expanded and England was almost unified, however, Edward died before he could do it.

When Edward became king in 899, he faced a rebellion led by his cousin, Æthelwold, who had believed that he had a better claim to the throne as he was the son of Athelred I, the older brother and predecessor of Edward's father. Edward successfully defeated Æthelwold and his army in 902. After that, Edward continued to rule England effectively until his death in 924. He was succeeded by his oldest child, Athelstan, who continued his father's plan to unify England on which he had successfully did it in 927.