The son of King Æthelred Unræd and Ælfgifu (Ælflæd, Elfreda), Eadmund commanded the Anglo-Saxon army sent to repulse the invasion of Cnut in 1015, but he failed to prevent Wessex from falling into the hands of the Danish conquerors. Eadmund was forced to leave Northumbria and to return to London, where his father died on 23 Apr 1016. While the citizens of London and a part of Witan members chose Eadmund as king, the other members meeting at Southampton elected Cnut. In the ensuing warfare Eadmund carried out a series of offensives defeating the Danes at Pen, at Brentford and again at Otford. However, these victories proved to be fruitless as the main forces of the Danes were not engaged in the battles. Eadmund recovered Wessex and relieved London of a siege before being decisively defeated by Cnut at Assandun (Ashington), Essex, on 18 Oct 1016. Retiring to Gloucestershire, Eadmund was persuaded by his councilors to make a compact with Cnut. During a meeting on the Isle of Olney, near Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, the two kings swore friendship and divided the kingdom. Eadmund retained Wessex and Cnut held the lands north of the River Thames. Within a month Eadmund died (30 Nov 1016), probably from natural causes. Biography sources: [1][2][3] |
