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EDMUND, or EADMUND (c. 980-1016)

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Originally appearing in Volume V08, Page 948 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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EDMUND, or EADMUND (c. 980-1016)  , called IRoNsIDE, See also:king of the See also:English, was the son of ;See also:Ethelred II. by his first wife AElfgifu . When Canute invaded See also:England in 'ors, See also:Edmund sought to resist him, but, paralysed by the treachery and See also:desertion of the ealdorman See also:Edric, he could do nothing, and Wessex submitted to the Danish king . Next See also:year Canute and Ethic together harried See also:Mercia, while Edmund with See also:infinite difficulty gathered an See also:army . Returning into See also:Northumbria, he in his turn harried the districts which' had submitted to the invader, but a See also:march northward by Canute brought about the speedy sub-See also:mission of Northumbria and the return of Edmund to See also:London . The See also:death of ;Ethelred on the 23rd of See also:April 1o16 was followed by a See also:double See also:election to the English See also:crown . The citizens of London and those members of the See also:Witan who were See also:present in the See also:city See also:chose Edmund, the See also:rest of the Witan See also:meeting at See also:Southampton elected Canute . In the warfare which ensued Edmund fought at the severest disadvantage, for his armies dispersed after every engagement, whatever its issue . Canute at once fiercely besieged London, but the citizens successfully resisted all attacks . Edmund meanwhile marched through Wessex and received its submission . At See also:Pen in See also:Somersetshire he engaged the Danes and defeated them . Canute now raised the See also:siege of London and soon afterwards encountered Edmund at Sherston in See also:Wiltshire . The See also:battle was indecisive, but Canute marched back to London and See also:left Edmund in See also:possession of Wessex .

Edmund hastened'after him and relieved London, which he had again besieged . He defeated the Danes at See also:

Brentford and again at Otford, and drove them into See also:Sheppey . He was now joined by Edric, in See also:conjunction with whom he followed the Danes into See also:Essex, overtaking them at Assandun (or See also:Ashington) . In the battle which ensued Edric again played the traitor, and the English were routed with terrible slaughter . Edmund retired into See also:Gloucestershire, whither he was followed by Canute . He himself was anxious to continue the struggle, but Edric and the Witan persuaded. him to accept a reconciliation . At See also:Olney the two rivals swore friendship, and a See also:division of the See also:kingdom was effected—Canute taking the See also:north, Edmund the See also:south . Soon afterwards Edmund died (3oth of See also:November ror6), probably from natural causes, 'though later historians hint at foul See also:play . (C . S .

End of Article: EDMUND, or EADMUND (c. 980-1016)
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SAINT [EDMUND RICE] EDMUND (d. 1240)
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GEORGE FRANKLIN EDMUNDS (1828– )

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