Интриги при дворе короля Эдуарда Старшего

INTRIGUES AT COURT
KING EDWARD THE ELDER

At the court of Edward the Elder (ruled from October 26, 899 or October 28, 901 to July 17, 924), one of the main intrigues was the confrontation with his cousin Ethelvold Etheling, the son of Ethelred I, the elder brother of Alfred the Great, Edward's father.

After the death of Alfred the Great in 899, Ethelwold claimed the throne. In 901, he seized the royal estates at Wimborne and Twynham, turning the former into a fortified camp, and rebelled against Edward. Ethelwold fled to the Danes in Northumbria, where they recognized him as the legitimate heir of Alfred. The Danes and ;thelwold began military operations against Edward.

The war lasted for several years. In 905, at the Battle of the Hill (possibly in Huntingdonshire), the Danes were defeated, although they retained part of the territory. Ethelwold himself died in this battle, which ended his threat to Edward's throne. After that, the Danes concluded peace with Edward on the same terms of the alliance and recognized themselves as subject to Wessex.

Another episode of intrigue was the uprising in Chester in 924. Edward suppressed him, but suffered injuries from which he later died at Farndon in Cheshire.

In addition, during the reign of Edward, there were difficulties associated with the management of Mercia. After the death of his sister Aethelflaed (Lady of Mercia) in 918, her daughter Elfwynn briefly became Lady of Mercia, but in December Edward took her to Wessex and established direct rule over Mercia. This could cause discontent among the local nobility.

Thus, the main intrigues at the court of Edward the Elder were related to the struggle for power (the rebellion of Ethelwold) and the management of conquered territories (the situation in Mercia and the suppression of uprisings).