HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

The kingdom of the English, forged in the course of the tenth century, was a formidable entity by the latter part of Edgar's reign (959–75). Northumbria had been reconquered from Scandinavian rule for the last time in 954, and, despite temporary divisions over the coming century, there was little prospect of the kingdom dissolving into separate pieces. Edgar's rule marked an apogee in the eyes of later observers: an era when the kingdom was unified, neighbouring rulers submitted to English supremacy, and monastic reform rejuvenated the Church (see Chapter 9, section (a), pp. 174–8).

The robust infrastructure and ideology which grew up behind the political scenes of this kingdom – at least within a core area extending as far north as Yorkshire (Molyneaux 2015, 1–9; 2011) – proved crucial to the realm's weathering of several successive crises in the later tenth and eleventh century (general surveys include Freeman 1867 –79, i–iii; Stafford 1989; Keynes 1999b; Molyneaux 2015, 34–8). Some of these were the result of external invasions, but others were of the English people's own making. Even though a single dynasty monopolised kingship down to 1013 (see Table 13, p. 176), the transition of power between kings was a particularly dangerous time, liable to widen existing cracks and exacerbate tensions in elite society. The aftermath of Edgar's death in 975 precipitated one such dispute. His two sons by different mothers both had a claim to the throne: one faction sided with Edward (975–8), another with Æthelred II (978–1016). Edward was crowned king in 975, but unrest continued, and landowners who had suffered loss at the hands of monastic establishments patronised by Edgar took the opportunity to reclaim their property. On 18 March 978, Edward was murdered at Corfe Castle, Dorset, in mysterious circumstances, paving the way for his half-brother's succession (Yorke 1999; Keynes 1999c, 48–55; 2012b; Marafioti 2014, 161–91). This was a far from auspicious start to what would prove to be a tumultuous reign (Keynes 1980; Keynes 2006; cf. Lavelle 2002; Williams 2003).