EADWEARD, son of ALFRED King of Wessex & his wife Ealhswith ([872]-Farndon-on-Dee near Chester 17 Jul 924, bur Winchester Cathedral[1623]). "Eadwardum" is named by Roger of Hoveden as the younger of King Alfred's sons by Queen Ealswith[1624]. "Edward/Eadweard filius regis" subscribed charters of King Alfred dated 871 and 892 (two)[1625]. He defeated the Danes at Fareham 893. "Eadweard rex" subscribed a charter of King Alfred dated 898[1626], implying that he was crowned in the lifetime of his father. He succeeded his father in 899 as EDWARD "the Elder" King of Wessex, crowned 31 May or 9 Jun 900 at Kingston-upon-Thames. He was faced soon after by the rebellion of his first cousin Æthelwold, son of Æthelred I King of Wessex, whom he finally defeated at the battle of the Holm in [902/05]. King Edward attacked the Danes in Northumbria in 909 and forced them to accept peace on his terms. The Danescountered by raiding Mercia as far as the Bristol Avon, but Edward defeated them at Tettenhall 5 Aug 910. In 911, Edward occupied London and Oxford, and in Summer 912 he attacked the Danes in Essex. King Edward continued northwards in 915, occupying Bedford. Edward began a major offensive against the Danes in the Midlands in 917, helped by the Mercian troops of his sister Æthelflæd. After his sister's death in 918, King Edward seized Tamworth to ensure the loyalty of Mercia, but left his niece Ælfwynn in nominal authority in Mercia until the winter of 919 when he had her taken to Wessex, marking the final integration of Mercia into Wessex. This was followed by the submission to him by the Welsh kings of Gwynedd, Dyfed and the lands between Merioneth and Gower, which made King Edward overlord of major parts of Wales. Edward then turned his attention to the reconquest of the remaining Danish colonies south of the river Humber, which he completed by 920, culminating with the submission to him of Rægnald King of York, Ealdred of Bamburgh and the king and people of Strathclyde[1627]. He was suppressing a revolt in Chester when he died. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death of King Edward at Farndon-on-Dee in Mercia in 924 and his burial at Winchester[1628].
m firstly ([892/94]) ECGWYNN, daughter of --- (-[901/02]). Roger of Hoveden names "muliere nobilissima Egcwinna", but does not refer to her as "regina" in contrast to King Edward's third wife[1629]. Florence of Worcester says that the mother of Edward's first born son was "a woman of very noble birth named Egwina"[1630]. According to William of Malmesbury, she was "an illustrious lady" but at another point in his text calls her "a shepherd's daughter"[1631]. The Book of Hyde names "Egwynna..quædam pastoris filia" as concubine of King Eadweard[1632]. Roger of Wendover names "concubine…Egwynna" as mother of King Edward’s "filium…primogenitum Ethelstanum"[1633]. The accession of her son King Æthelstan in 924 was challenged apparently on the grounds that he was "born of a concubine"[1634]. However, Æthelstan is named ahead of his half-brother Ælfweard in the list of subscribers in two charters of their father[1635], indicating his seniority and presumably implying the legitimacy of his parents'union.
m secondly (901 or before) ÆLFLÆD, daughter of ealdorman ÆTHELHELM & his wife Ælswitha --- (-920, bur Winchester Cathedral[1636]). "Elffled coniux regis" subscribed a 901 charter of King Edward[1637]. The Book of Hyde names "Elfelmi comitis filia Elfleda" as first wife of King Eadweard[1638]. Roger of Wendover calls her "secunda regina sua…Alfleda, Elfelmi comitis filia"[1639].
m thirdly (920) EADGIFU, daughter of SIGEHELM Lord of Meopham, Cooling and Lenham in Kent & his wife --- (-26 Aug 968, bur Canterbury Cathedral). "Eadgifu regis mater" subscribed charters of Kings Edmund and Eadred between 940 and 953[1640]. Eadgifu recited her title to land at Cooling by charter dated 959 which names her father Sigelm and records that he was killed in battle[1641]. King Eadred granted land in Berkshire to "Aedgyfu regis mater" in 945[1642]. King Eadred granted land at Felpham, Sussex to "Eadgifu famula dei matri mee" by charter dated 953[1643]. She appears to have supported her grandson Edgar against Eadwig in 957, the latter depriving her of her property. "Eadgifu hil ealdan moder/predicti regis aua" subscribed charters of King Edgar dated [959/63] and 966[1644].