Origins & Early Life

Edmund I or Eadmund I (920/921 – 26 May 946) was King of the English from 27 October 939 until his death in 946. He was the elder son of King Edward the Elder and his third wife, Queen Eadgifu, and a grandson of King Alfred the Great. Edmund was crowned king after his eldest half-brother, King Æthelstan, died childless in 939. He had two sons, Eadwig and Edgar, who were young children when he was killed in a brawl with an outlaw at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Edmund was succeeded by his younger brother Eadred, who died in 955 and was followed by Edmund's sons in succession. Æthelstan had succeeded as the king of England south of the Humber and he became the first king of all England when he conquered Viking-ruled York in 927, but after his death Anlaf Guthfrithson was accepted as King of York and extended Viking rule to the Five Boroughs of north-east Mercia. Edmund was initially forced to accept the reverse, the first major setback for the West Saxon dynasty since Alfred's reign, but he was able to recover his position following Anlaf's death in 941. In 942, Edmund took back control of the Five Boroughs and in 944 he regained control over the whole of England when he expelled...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhshid — Contemporary (Died in 946) (946): Founder of the Ikhshidid dynasty, autonomous ruler of Egypt and the Levant.
• Alexander Pushkin — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1799): Founder of modern Russian literature and a towering figure of the Romantic era.
• Bayezid II — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (1512): Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for consolidating power and resettling Sephardi Jews.
• Bob Fitzsimmons — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1863): Pioneering Cornish-New Zealand boxer, first three-division world champion.
• Emir Abdelkader — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (1883): Algerian religious and military leader who resisted French colonization for decades.
• František Palacký — Shared historical date (05-26 · Died) (1876): Father of the Nation: Influential Czech historian and political leader.
• Hwang Dong-hyuk — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1971): Acclaimed South Korean director, celebrated for 'Silenced' and 'Squid Game'.
• Isadora Duncan — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1877): Pioneering American dancer and choreographer of modern contemporary dance.
• John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1650): British statesman and military genius, famed for the Duke of Marlborough.
• John Wayne — Shared historical date (05-26 · Born) (1907): Iconic American actor known for Western and war movie roles during Hollywood's Golden Age.
• 920 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 920
• 946 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 946
• May 26 (05-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 26