Eadred was the son of King Eadweard the Elder, the half brother of King Æthelstan, and the brother of King Eadmund. He succeeded to the throne of Anglo-Saxon England after the murder of Eadmund in 946. The reign of Eadred was distinguished for his wars with the Northumbrians. The northerners swore oaths of fealty to Eadred at Tanshelf (947), but within the year they proclaimed as their king Erik Bloodaxe. Eadred retaliated in 948 ravaging Northumbria. In late 950 or 951, the Northumbrians revolted again and accepted Olaf Sihtricson as their king. The Northumbrian throne passed from one Viking ruler to another until 954, when Eadred's authority was restored. Eadred supported the monastic revival inspired by Dunstan, who assumed the reins of government in the last years of Eadred's reign. Biography sources: [1][2][3] |