| Born | 962 | Born at | |  | | Died | 18 Mar 978 | Buried at | Wareham, later Shaftesbury | | Royal House | Wessex | | | Edward 'The Martyr' became King of England in July 975 after the death of his father Edgar. A crisis followed the death of the old king as both Edward and his half brother Ethelred had a claim to the throne and were supported by opposing parties. Edward was supported by the monastic party led by Aethelwine and Athelred was supported by the anti-monastic party led by Ealdorman Aelfhere of Mercia. The Ealdorman wanted to curtail the powers of the monasteries. Edward was murdered near the site of Corfe Castle on the 18th of March 978 while visiting his step-mother Elfrida (or Elfthyrth ?). He was stabbed in the back by an assassin. His step-mother wanted Edward removed so that her own son Athelred could become king. After being dumped in a well, Edward's body was removed and buried in a church in Shaftsbury where it was said that miracles occurred at the site of the tomb. The blind regaining their sight was one example. Elfrida atoned for her crime and founded two convents. She retired to the convent at Andover and remained there until she died.
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 | |  EDWARD (The Martyr, King of the English 975-978) (b.962 - d.978)
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