Edmund II - Ironside: 1016-1016 AD | History of the monarchs of Britain

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Edmund II - Ironside: 1016-1016

Edmund succeeded to the throne upon the death of his farther, Æthelred, in 1016AD. He was crowned in London, and accepted by those gathered as the rightful heir. However, many of the country's nobles had renounced his line, and instead made their peace with Canute, declaring him king at a counsel held in Southampton.

The Danes quickly laid siege to London, but Edmund was able to break through the attacking army, and withdraw with his forces to Wessex, where he received the submission of the western Saxons nobles. Subsequently, Edmund returned to London, where he broke the siege and drove the Danes back to their ships.

A number of successful engagements followed, during which Edmund performed brilliantly, earning his nickname of "Ironside". However, on October 18th, Edmund met Canute's forces at the Battle of Ashingdon in Essex, where he was decisively defeated (partly due to treachery). Edmund survived, and fled with his army to Gloucester, pursued by the Danish forces. Finally, Edmund invited Canute to decide the matter in single combat, but the Norse king declined, citing Edmund's great size and strength as an unfair advantage. Instead, the kings agreed to divide the kingdom, with Edmund governing Wessex, London and East Anglia, and Canute the rest of the lands north of the Thames. It was further agreed that in the event that either king should die, their territories would revert to the survivor.

Edmund died a month later. One story tells that assassins hid below his privy, impaling him with a sword as he sat to relieve himself. He was buried at Glastonbury abbey, and Canute became king of all England.