ABSTRACT
King Edgar died two years after his visit to Chester, at the early age of thirty-two. His surviving sons were both youths, the elder, Edward, about sixteen years of age, the younger, Aethel-red, not more than eleven. If either succeeded their father it was probable that for some years effective power would fall into the hands of that group of magnates which succeeded in gaining the confidence, or controlling the person, of the young king. The claim of Edward, Edgar’s son by his first wife, Aethelflaed, was supported by Archbishop Dunstan, his fellow bishops, and probably by ealdorman Aethelwine of East Anglia. Aethelred’s cause was championed by his mother, Edgar’s second wife, Aelfthryth, and ealdorman Aelfhere of Mercia.
