8. Edward the Martyr

The Kings and Queens podcast

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing Edward the Martyr (975-78). 'Men murdered him, but God exalted him. In life he was an earthly king; after death he is now a heavenly saint. His earthly kinsmen would not avenge him, but his heavenly Father has greatly avenged him. The earthly killers would have destroyed his memory. Those who would not bow to his living body now humbly on their knees bow to his dead bones. How we may understand that the wisdom of men, their plans and counsel, are nothing against God’s purpose.'

Characters

Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78)

Aethelred - brother of Edward and claimant

Edgar - King of England (959-75), father of Edward and Aethelred

Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of Edward

Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar

Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of Aethelred

Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury

Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester

Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York

Aethelwine - Alderman of East-Anglia

Aelfhere - Ealdorman of Mercia

Brihthelm - former Archbishop of Canterbury

Kenneth II - King of Scotland

Geoffrey Gaimar - chronicler

Lantfred - chronicler and Winchester monk

Byrthferth - chronicler

Osbern of Canterbury - chronicler

Music: Medieval Suspense by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In Excelsis Deo