Edmund I (922 – 26 May 946), the Elder, the Deed-Doer or the Magnificent, was King of England from 939 until his death.[1] He was a son of Edward the Elder and a half-brother of Athelstan. Edmund was the first king to start his rule with a united England.[1]
Early in his rule, the Norse king, Olaf Guthfrithson, took back much of the north of England. By 941, Edmund regained his northern lands from the Norse. He defeated a revolt by the Welsh and killed the Scottish King of Strathclyde, Donald MacDonald. He signed a treaty with Malcolm I of Scotland and set up a policy of safe borders.[1]
He was married twice. With is first wife, St. Aelfgith, he had two children who became King Eadwig All-Fair and King Edgar the Peacemaker. After she died in 944 Edmund married Ethelflaed of Damerham. They did not have children.[1]
During the Feast of St. Augustine, on 26 May 946, at Pucklechurch in Gloucester, Edmund was killed fighting a thief who would not leave the feast.[2] He was succeeded by his brother Edred. Edmund is buried at Glastonbury Abbey.[1]
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