Edgar Etheling

Also known as: Edgar / Edgar the etheling / child Edgar · Family: English · Role: etheling · First appears: A.D. 1066 · part 1

In 1066, London’s leaders wanted Edgar as king, and Earl Edwin and Morkar promised to fight with them. At Berkhampstead, Edgar and other English leaders submitted to William of Normandy, exchanged hostages and oaths, and William promised to be their faithful lord. In Lent, Edgar went with William to Normandy. That year the monks chose Abbot Brand and sent him to Edgar, who received him gladly and granted him the abbacy.

In 1067, Edgar went to Scotland with his mother Agatha and sisters Margaret and Christina, under Malcolm’s protection. In 1068 he came to York with the Northumbrians, but William surprised them with an army and put them to flight. The next year Edgar joined Waltheof, Merle-Sweyne and Gospatric with the Northumbrians and Danish forces as they advanced on York. In 1074, Malcolm and Margaret received Edgar in Scotland and gave him and his men presents; after Malcolm advised him to seek William’s friendship, William granted it. In 1086 Edgar revolted from William, having received little honour from him.

In 1091, Edgar was deprived of land that Robert of Normandy had allowed him to keep. In 1097, with the king’s assistance, he went into Scotland, drove out King Dufnal, and appointed his nephew Edgar son of Malcolm king in fealty to William son of William. In 1106, after going over from the king to Robert of Normandy, Edgar was captured at Tenerchebrai; King Henry later released him unpunished.