Miniature d'Édouard le Martyr dans une généalogie royale du XIVe siècle. British Library, Royal MS 14 B VI
Edward
the Martyr, MS Royal 14 B VI
Saint Edouard le Martyr
Le prince Edouard est le
fils d’Edgar, roi de Wessex et d’Engelflède, sa seconde épouse. Baptisé par
saint Dunstan, archevêque de Cantorbéry, il est pressenti par son père pour lui
succéder mais à sa mort, en 972, une querelle dynastique tente de lui barrer le
trône. Les évêques, abbés, ducs et seigneurs du royaume délibèrent et l’ayant
choisi, le font sacrer. Le nouveau roi qui n’a que treize ans s’attire le
respect de tous grâce à sa bonté et à son habile gouvernement. Il meurt
cependant poignardé dans un guet-apens tendu par la troisième femme d'Edgard,
en 978. Mais sa mort n'éteignit pas dans le peuple la mémoire de ce jeune et
éphémère roi, tant fut grande sa bonté et sa sagesse et qu’on continue
d’appeler « le Martyr ».
The Wicked Queen Elfrida (Ælfthryth, wife of Edgar) puts her plan of murdering Edward the Martyr into motion, Pictures of English History, 1868, Plate IX
Saint Édouard le Martyr
Roi de Wessex (+ 978)
Le prince Édouard se fit baptiser par saint Dunstan, archevêque de Cantorbery. Il était le fils du roi Edgard le Pacifique, qui, par la suite, se remaria trois fois. Succédant à son père à l'âge de treize ans, il fut l'objet de la haine de la troisième femme d'Edgard. Sa belle-mère, lors d'une fête où elle l'avait invité, lui fit donner un coup de poignard. Mais sa mort n'éteignit pas la mémoire d'Édouard II dans son peuple, tant fut grande sa bonté et sa sagesse.
Près de Wareham en Angleterre, l’an 978, la passion de saint Édouard, roi
d’Angleterre. Encore adolescent il fut poignardé par un domestique de sa
belle-mère, qui l’avait attiré dans un guet-apens.
Martyrologe romain
Saint Edouard le
martyr (+978)
Surnommé " le Martyr
", il est le fils d’Edgar, roi d’Angleterre, et d’Engelflède, fille du duc
Ordmer, épousée en seconde noces. Au décès de cette dernière, Edgar épouse en
troisièmes noces Elfride, fille du roi de Cornouailles et veuve d’Elwolde, le
chef des anglais orientaux (avec qui elle avait eu un fils du nom de Ethelred).
Edouard est pressenti par son père pour lui succéder. Cependant, lorsque ce
dernier décède, en 972, une importante querelle familiale a lieu, attisée par
sa veuve Elfride, qui défend les intérêts de son propre fils Ethelred et veut
le faire régner à la place d’Edouard. Les archevêques du Royaume (Dunstan de
Cantorbéry et Oswald d’York), assemblés avec les évêques, les abbés, ducs et
seigneurs de la couronne, délibèrent et sacrent Edouard, suivant la volonté
d’Edgar. Le nouveau roi s’attire le respect de tous grâce à sa bonté et à son
habile maniement du gouvernement. Et pourtant, un jour qu’il rend visite à son
frère, il est assassiné dans un guet-apens tendu par sa belle-mère.
SOURCE : http://www.peintre-icones.fr/PAGES/CALENDRIER/Mars/18.html
Also
known as
Edward II
20 June (translation
of relics)
Profile
Son of King Edgar
the Peaceful, and Æthelflæd. On Edgar’s death in 975,
there was a disputed succession between Edward and his younger half-brother,
Æthelred, Edgar’s son by Ælfthryth, but Edward was chosen King of England at
age 13; he reigned less than three years. Killed at the behest of his
step-mother Elfrida so her son could take the throne,
and popularly proclaimed a martyr.
Born
stabbed to death in
the evening of 18 March 978 at
Corfe Castle, Dorsetshire, England
relics translated
to Shaftesbury
Abbey on 13
February 981,
and resided there for over 500 years
relics hidden
in 1539 when
the abbey was
seized by the state
relics re-discovered
in 1931 during
an archeological dig
on the site
relics re-interred
in the Brookwood Cemetery, Saint Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church,
Woking, England under
the care of monks in
the Greek Orthodox tradition
in England
king with dagger and falcon or hawk
king on horseback,
drinking mead, while assassins move toward him
king stabbed on horseback
while drinking
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Short
Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
websites
in nederlandse
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i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Edward the
Martyr“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 February 2024. Web. 5 May 2024.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-edward-the-martyr/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-edward-the-martyr/
Statue
of St Edward on the chancel gable of St Edward the Martyr parish church, Corfe
Castle, Dorset
Article
EDWARD (Saint) King,
Martyr (March 18) (10th century) The son of Edgar the Peaceful and King of
England at the age of thirteen on his father’s death (A.D. 975). He reigned for
only a little over three years and a half but, guided by Saint Dunstan. the
great prelate of the time, won for himself by his piety and virtuous life, the
love and reverence of his subjects. He was murdered at Wareham in Dorsetshire
by emissaries, hired by his jealous and ambitious stepmother, March 18, A.D.
978; and was forthwith popularly acclaimed as a Martyr. His remains were
translated to Shaftesbury three years after his death.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Edward”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 22
November 2012.
Web. 5 May 2024. <http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-edward/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-edward/
.jpg)
St. Edward the Martyr
Feastday: March 18
Edward was the eldest son
of King Edgar of England and his first wife, Ethelfleda who died shortly after
her son's birth. He was baptized by St. Dunstan and
became King in 975 on his father's death with the support of Dunstan but
against the wishes of his stepmother, Queen Elfrida, who wished the throne for
her son Ethelred. Edward ruled only three years when he was murdered on March
18 while hunting near Corfe Dastle, reportedly by adherents of Ethelred, though
William of Malmesbury, the English historian of the twelfth century, said
Elfrida was the actual murderer. In the end, Elfrida was seized with remorse
for her crime and, retiring from the world, she built the monasteries of
Amesbury and Wherwell, in the latter of which she died. Edward was a martyr only
in the broad sense of one who suffers an unjust death, but his cultus was
considerable, encouraged by the miracles reported from his tomb at
Shaftesbury; His feast
day is March 18 and still observed in the diocese of
Plymouth.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=862
Représentation
de la préparation de l'assassinat d'Édouard : sa belle-mère Ælfthryth lui
tend une coupe, tandis qu'un de ses serviteurs se prépare à le frapper
(illustration de James William Edmund Doyle, 1864).
Edoardo
il Martire di Edward Evans, tratto da A Chronicle of England: B.C. 55
– A.D. 1485 di James William Edmund
Doyle, 1864
Golden
Legend – Life of Saint Edward, King and Martyr
Here
followeth the life of Saint Edward, King and martyr.
Saint Edward, the young
king and martyr, was the son of King Edgar, and he was king but three years and
seven months, and when his own mother was dead, his father, the king, wedded
another wife, which was full wicked, and by her he had a son named Ethelred.
This queen laboured sore for to destroy this young King Edward for to make her own
son, Ethelred, king, and little loved the King Edward. For then King Edgar was
dead which had been a good justicer in chastising rebels and cherishing good
and welldisposed people. For he had a blessed and an holy man, Saint Dunstan,
which was chief of his council and was much ruled by him, and in that time was
joy and mirth in all England. And the queen, through enticing of the fiend our
enemy, laboured ever and awaited for to destroy this young King Edward. And so
it happed that this said young king, Edward, rode on hunting with his knights
in the wood of Dorset beside the town of Warham, and there in the chase it
happed the king to depart away from his men, and rode forth alone to see his
brother Ethelred which was thereby, with the queen, his mother, in the castle
named Corfe. But when the queen saw him there being alone, she was joyful and
glad in her heart, hoping then to accomplish that which she sore had laboured
for, and went to the king and welcomed him with fair and blandishing words, and
commanded to fetch bread and wine to the king, and whiles the king drank, the
butler took a knife and roof the king through the body to the heart, in such
wise that the king fell down dead. And anon then the queen’s servants buried
the body in a desolate place of the wood, to the end that no man should know
where he was become. And when Saint Dunstan knew that the king was so murdered,
he made much great sorrow, and in short time after, yet a part against his
will, he crowned her son Ethelred king. And then he said to the king: Forasmuch
as by manslaughter and wrong thou art come to be king, thou shalt therefore
have great sorrow and trouble to thy life’s end, and all shall fall for the
death of thy brother Edward. Who that will know the sorrow that fell may see it
in the life of Saint Alphage, and there he shall see what sorrow there fell,
and all was for the death of this Saint Edward. And all the poor people of this
land sorrowed greatly for this good king’s death, and in especial because they
could not know where he was buried. For they would bury him much worshipfully
if they might find him.
And in a time, as God
would, men of Warham and of the country be gone for to seek this holy body of
Saint Edward with great devotion, praying our Lord that they might have knowledge
where the holy body was, and soon after, one of them that so sought saw a great
light in a desolate place of the wood in likeness of a pillar of fire,
stretching from heaven even unto the grave where the holy body lay in. And then
the people full reverently digged up the body and brought it with solemn
procession to the church of Warham, and they buried this holy body in the
churchyard at the east end of the church, for they durst not do otherwise for
displeasure of the queen. But now over that grave is builded a fair chapel of
our Lady, and in the place where he was first buried is now a right fair well,
which is called Saint Edward’s well, where our Lord showeth many miracles for
his holy martyr Saint
Edward. And in likewise in the chapel at Warham, whereas his holy body lay
long, our Lord showeth also miracles. But long time after, by the labour of the
earl Alphere which much loved Saint Edward, the bishops and clergy, by the
counsel of Saint Wilfrida and Saint Edith, sisters of Saint Edward and nuns at
Wilton, the holy body was took out of the chapel of Warham, and brought with
great solemnity unto the nunnery of Shaftesbury. And by the way, as men bare
this holy body, two cripples were made all whole, and followed the holy body
with great joy and mirth, thanking God and the holy saint of their health. And
when they came to Shaftesbury they laid this holy body in the wall by the high altar
right worshipfully, where our Lord showed miracles for him. And when the queen,
his stepmother, heard tell what miracles God showed for him, then she repented
her full sore, and cried God mercy, and the holy saint, for her trespass, and
purposed to ride thither to do worship to the holy body, and there to ask
forgiveness of the death that she had committed to be done in him. But, when
she would have ridden thitherward, her horse would not go forth in no wise for
beating ne drawing; and then she lighted down and went thither full meekly on
her feet; and oft in her journey she repented her of that cursed deed that she
had caused to be done to this holy Saint Edward. And when she came to
Shaftesbury, where as this holy body was buried, she did full great reverence
thereto, and cried God mercy, and the holy saint, for her great offence. And
after this she became a full good woman, and had great repentance thereof unto
her life’s end. And after, when the holy body had rested in the wall certain
years, Saint Edward appeared to an holy religious man, and bade him go to Dame
Ethelreda, abbess of that place, and say to her that she purvey that his body
should be laid in a more worshipful place. And then she went to Saint Dunstan
to pray him of his help in this matter, and soon after Saint Dunstan came with
a multitude of bishops, abbots, priors and of the clergy, and took up this holy
body and laid it in a worshipful shrine, which the abbess and other
well-disposed people had ordained for it. And when his body was taken out of
the wall, there came out of the grave a savour like a smoke of frankincense,
smelling so sweet that all the people were greatly comforted thereby. And thus
this holy king and martyr was
translated in the year of our Lord one thousand, and somewhat more. And when
king Ethelred was dead, Edward his son reigned after him, which was a holy and
glorious king and confessor, and lieth buried at Westminster, and worshipfully
shrined, whereas our Lord hath showed many a great miracle for him. Then let us
pray to this holy martyr Saint
Edward, king, and to Saint Edward, king and confessor that they pray to our
Lord for us, that we may in this wretched world so amend and repent us of our
wretched life, that, when we shall depart hence we may come to his everlasting
life in heaven. Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-life-of-saint-edward-king-and-martyr/
Penny
du règne d'Édouard frappé à Stamford.
Münze mit Eduard, 10. Jahrhundert
Obverse of a penny of Edward the Martyr
produced at Stamford by the coiner Wulfgar. Grueber,
Herbert Appold (1846-1927), Handbook of the coins of Great Britain and
Ireland in the British Museum. London/Oxford: British Museum. Dept. of
Coins and Medals & the Clarendon Press, 1899, p. 28, plate VI, image number
171. Available online at the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/handbookofcoinso00brituoft.
The coin is no 1777 on p. 733 of Rory Naismith, Medieval European Coinage:
8 Britain and Ireland 400-1066, Cambridge University Press, 2017. It was
produced at Stamford and the coiner was Wulfgar (p. 732). Note: the original
uploader details wrongly state that it is a coin of Edmund the Martyr.
St. Edward the Martyr
Edward was the eldest son
of King Edgar of England and his first wife, Ethelfleda who died shortly after
her son's birth. He was baptized by St.
Dunstan and became King in 975 on his father's death with the support
of Dunstan but against the wishes of his stepmother, Queen Elfrida, who wished
the throne for
her son Ethelred. Edward ruled only three years when he was murdered on March
18 while hunting near Corfe Dastle, reportedly by adherents of Ethelred, though
William of Malmesbury, the English historian of the twelfth century, said
Elfrida was the actual murderer. In the end, Elfrida was seized with remorse
for her crime and, retiring from the world, she built the monasteries of
Amesbury and Wherwell, in the latter of which she died. Edward was a martyr only
in the broad sense of one who suffers an unjust death, but his cultus was
considerable, encouraged by the miracles reported from his tomb at
Shaftesbury; His feast
day is March 18 and still observed in the diocese of
Plymouth.
SOURCE : http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=862
St. Edward the Martyr
King of England,
son to Edgar the Peaceful, and uncle to St.
Edward the Confessor; b. about 962; d. 18 March, 979.
His accession to the throne on his father's death,
in 975, was opposed by a party headed by his stepmother, Queen Elfrida,
who was bent on securing the crown for her own son Ethelred, then aged seven,
in which she eventually was successful. Edward's claim, however, was
supported by St.
Dunstan and the clergy and
by most of the nobles; and having been acknowledged by the Witan, he
was crowned by St.
Dunstan. Though only thirteen, the young king had already given promise of
high sanctity,
and during his brief reign of three years and a half won the affection of his
people by his many virtues. His stepmother, who still cherished her
treacherous designs, contrived at the last to bring about his death.
Whilst hunting in Dorsetshire he happened (18 March, 979) to call
at Corfe Castle where she lived. There, whilst drinking on horseback
a glass of mead offered him at the castle gate, he was stabbed
by an assassin in the bowels. He rode away, but soon fell from his horse, and
being dragged by the stirrup was flung into a deep morass, where his body
was revealed by a pillar of light. He was buried first
at Wareham, whence three years later, his body, having been found entire,
was translated to Shaftesbury Abbey by St.
Dunstan and Earl Alfere of Mercia, who in Edgar's lifetime
had been one of his chief opponents. Many miracles are
said to have been obtained through his intercession. Elfrida, struck
with repentance for her crimes, built the two monasteries of Wherwell
and Ambresbury, in the first of which she ended her days in penance.
The violence of St.
Edward's end, joined to the fact that the party opposed to him had been
that of the irreligious, whilst he himself had ever acted as
defender of the Church,
obtained for him the title of Martyr, which is given to him in all the
old English calendars on
18 March, also in the Roman Martyrology.
Sources
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in R.
S. (London, 1861); Malmesbury, Gesta Regum, ibid. (London,
1872); Tynemouth and Capgrave, Nova Legenda Angliae (Oxford, 1901);
Challoner, Britannia Sancta (London, 1745); Lingard, History of
England (London, 1883); Butler, Lives of the Saints (Dublin,
1872); Stanton, Menology of England and Wales (London, 1892).
Phillips,
George. "St. Edward the Martyr." The Catholic
Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton
Company, 1909. 18 Mar.
2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05323a.htm>.
Copyright © 2023 by Kevin Knight.
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05323a.htm
Plate
23 from Ecclesiae Anglicanae Trophae, a collection of engravings by
Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri after murals by Nicolò Circignano in the chapel
of the Venerable English College, Rome. It shows the murder of King Edward the
Martyr and the death of Archbishop Alphege of Canterbury.1584
St. Edward the Martyr,
King of the English
(AD 962-978)
Edward was the eldest son
of King Edgar the
Peacemaker by his first wife, the beautiful Ethelflaeda Eneda (White-Duck).
The lady died shortly after the birth of her son and, after her death, Edgar
remarried Aelfthrith, daughter of Ealdorman Ordgar of Devonshire. She bore him
two sons, Edmund, who died young, and Aethelred.
Edward was thirteen years old when his father died in AD 975. An admirable
youth, upright in all his dealings and fearing God, he was elected to the
throne by the Witan, largely under the influence of St.
Dunstan and Ealdorman Aethelwin of East Anglia.
On 18th March AD 978, when Edward was only sixteen, he was assassinated under
controversial circumstances. In reality, this surrounded a magnetic power
struggle, led by the Mercian anti-monastic party who favoured Edward’s
half-brother. However, legend tells a very different story. The Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle does not record the King’s assassin, only that he was killed at eventide
at Corfe Castle in Dorset. Henry of Huntingdon says that King Edward was killed
by his own people. Florence of Worcester, that he was killed by his own people
by order of his step-mother, Queen Aelfthrith. William of Malmesbury says he
was killed by Ealdorman Aelfhere of Mercia; but in recording his death,
Malmesbury also attributes the crime to Aelfthrith and tells the now
traditionally accepted story:
Queen Aelfthrith hated Edward because he had been elected King when she had
hoped her own son, Aethelred, would take the throne; and she plotted to have
him murdered. One day, the young King was hunting near the Royal Palace of
Corfe, in Dorset, where Queen Aelfthrith and Prince Aethelred were staying.
Being weary and thirsty, King Edward turned away from his hunting party and
rode off to drop in on them and take a rest. When he rode up to the palace
gate, Aelfthrith herself came out to greet him with a kiss. The two were on
friendly terms as far as the King knew and, without dismounting, he asked his step-mother
for a drink. Queen Aelfthrith sent for a cup of wine and the exhausted Edward
drank eagerly. But as he drank, Aelfthrith gave a sign to one of her servants,
who stepped forward, drew his dagger and stabbed the King in the back! The King
cried out in pain, but managed to set his spurs to his horse in an attempt to
escape to the safety of his comrades. He slipped from his horse though and,
with his leg caught in the stirrup, he was dragged along until the combination
of the knife-wound and inflicted head injuries killed him.
Queen Aelfthrith sent out her men to follow the King’s bloody trail and
retrieve the body. She ordered it buried in Wareham Priory, but not in holy
ground or with any Royal pomp. A light from heaven is later said to have shone
over King Edward’s humble grave and many miracles were reported there. As a
good youth, unjustly and cruelly killed, people looked on him as a saint and
called him Edward the Martyr. On 20th June AD 980, St. Dunstan translated
the body to Shaftesbury Abbey. Relics excavated amongst the ruins, and believed
to be his, were for many years the subject of a legal dispute. However, they
now reside in the Eastern Orthodox Church in Brookwood (Surrey).
St. Edward is usually depicted with a youthful countenance, having the insignia
of royalty, with a cup in one hand and a dagger in the other. Sometimes he has
a sceptre instead of the cup; and at other times a falcon, in allusion to his
last hunt.
Partly Edited from S. Baring-Gould's "The Lives of the Saints"
(1877)..
SOURCE : http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/edwardmartyr.html
Edward the Martyr, by Edwards, published 1776.
St Edward the Martyr
(c959-978/9)
"Men murdered him
but God has magnified him"
(The Anglo Saxon Chronicle)
St Edward was the son of Edgar, by his first wife Ethelfleda (died c963/4).
King Edgar (c944-975) reigned from 959 to 975 and on his death Edward became
king. Edward was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury, St Dunstan, as he
was only in his mid-teens. The succession was disputed because King Edgar's
second wife, Aelfthryth (c945-1000), wished her son Ethelred to be king.
(Ethelred is known to history as Ethelred the Unready or "the
Redeless".) Two or three years later, on 18 March 978 or 979, Edward was
murdered near the site of Corfe Castle, Dorset, almost certainly the victim of
his stepmother's intrigues.
Edward's initial burial was hurried. Soon miraculous cures were attributed to
Edward by visitors to the site of his grave. In 980 his body was moved to
Shaftesbury Abbey, the relics were enshrined in 1001, and he was officially
canonised in 1008. St Edward's shrine survived until the Dissolution of the
Monasteries, when it was stripped of its wealth. However, St Edward's remains
had previously been removed and hidden in the Church.
In 1931 a crude casket was unearthed during an archaeological investigation of
the site. The remains were studied and pronounced consistent with the injuries
received by St Edward. The Director of the Excavations, John Wilson-Claridge
(1905-1993), whose family then owned the site, began years of painstaking
negotiations with all the major churches in order to fins a suitable resting
place for the relics. He imposed three conditions: (1) that they were
recognised as the relics of a saint, (2) that a shrine would be
established for their reception, and (3) that his feast days would be observed.
These conditions were met only by the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, which
entered into detailed negotiations with Mr Wilson-Claridge in the late 1970s.
At about the same time the Orthodox Church purchased the site now
owned by the St
Edward Brotherhood, with the intention of using the larger of the two
mortuary chapels for the reception of St Edward's bones. The formal ceremony of
enshrinement took place on 15/16 September 1984. Thus for the first time in
nearly 450 years the remains of St Edward (arguably England's least important
king) have a fitting resting place within a Church whose doctrine is closest to
that which he knew in his lifetime.
2001 marked the one thousandth anniversary of the glorification of St Edward.
In 1001, it was decided to enshrine his relics at Shaftesbury Abbey in a costly
and elaborate shrine. This decision was based on the continued slight
levitation of the cover of his grave in the Abbey, and from the dreams of a
devout man to whom St Edward is said to have appeared and indicated that he no
longer wished to lie in this grave. The man told the Abbess of his dreams, she
referred the matter to King Ethelred (St Edward's step-brother), and the King
ordered the relics to be enshrined in a suitable place in the Abbey Church. A
Royal Charter dated 1001 states that "I, King Ethelred, King of the
English, with humble prayer, offer the monastry ... my brother Edward, whom the
Lord himself deigns to exault in our days by many signs of virtue, after his
blood was shed."
A special service was held in the St Edward the Martyr Church on 31
March 2001 to celebrate this event. The Hierarchical Liturgy was led by
Archbishop Mark who has pastoral oversight of the parishes of the Russian
Orthodox Church Abroad in the British Isles.
An article by Father Alexis describing the life of St Edward the
Martyr and the foundation of the St Edward Brotherhood appeared in
the Society's bi-annual magazine Necropolis
News vol 2 no 1 (1996).
An article on St Edward the Martyr appeared in the March 2003 issue of
the BBC History Magazine.
For further information about St Edward and the St Edward
Brotherhood contact the St
Edward Brotherhood, St Cyprian's Avenue, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey
GU24 0BL. Tel or Fax (01483) 487763.
SOURCE : http://www.tbcs.org.uk/st_edward_the_martyr.htm
Edward
the Martyr on the Coronation Stone
Edward the Martyr
975-978
At his death, King Edgar
the Peaceful had left two sons, the elder of these, Edward, was the
child of his first marriage to Elfleda, the daughter of Ealdorman Ordmaer.
Elfleda had been divorced
in around 964 to enable Edgar to marry his second wife, Elfrida, a notorious
character and widow of Ethelwald, Ealdorman of East Anglia, who was said to
have had an adulterous affair with the King prior to her first husband's death.
This second marriage produced two further sons, Edmund and Ethelred ,
but the elder of these had predeceased his father.
Elfrida was crowned Queen
on 11th May, 973, at Bath Abbey, which was the first instance of a coronation
of a Saxon Queen of England. She was the first consort to be termed Queen since
the infamous Judith,
daughter of Charles the Bald, in the previous century.
His father's will named
his elder son, Edward, (or Eadweard in Old English) as his heir and he had the
support of the influential but now aged St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Many of the nobility of the realm, including the powerful Alfere, Ealdorman of
Mercia were in favour of the seven year old Ethelred succeeding, as they
themselves had much to gain from the crown being subjected to a long minority
government. The nation was divided over the issue of which of his sons should
suceed King Edgar. A meeting of the witan was arranged at Calne, in Wiltshire
were the matter was debated at length. Eventually, the influence of Dunstan
prevailed and accordingly Edward was elected King
Edward was crowned by St.
Dunstan at Kingston upon Thames in 975, at the age of thirteen. After recording
Edward's succession, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that a comet appeared,
and that famine and "manifold disturbances" followed.
Despite what had passed,
the two brothers, Ethelred and Edward themselves seem to have remained attached
to each other. Queen Elfrida, however, thoroughly detested her step-son. At her
instigation, plot was hatched to murder the young King.
Edward visit his
half-brother Ethelred at Corfe, in the Purbeck Hills of Dorset, probably at or
near the mound on which the ruins of Corfe Castle now stand, in the evening of
18 March 978, at the invitation of his step-mother. Elfrida met him at the door
with a kiss of welcome. He was then offered the traditional drink to refresh
him. As the young King heartily refreshed his thirst after the dusty journey,
one of the Queen's attendants treacherously stabbed the sixteen year old in the
back. Though severely wounded, he managed to spur his horse and escaped, making
an attempt to re-join his companions, but died on the road. His bloody corpse,
dragged in the stirrups by the terrified animal, revealed his fate to his
attendants.
Edward was buried at
Wareham and his murder went unpunished. Said to deeply repent this deed, Queen
Elfrida became a nun at Wherwell Abbey in Hampshire. She died in 1002.
The Cult of Edward the
Martyr
Edward's body lay at
Wareham for a year before being disinterred. Ælfhere initiated the reinterment,
perhaps as a gesture of reconciliation. According to the life of Oswald,
Edward's body was found to be incorrupt when it was disinterred (which was
taken as a miraculous sign). The body was taken to Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset,
a nunnery with royal connections which had been endowed by King Alfred the
Great and where Edward and Æthelred's grandmother Ælfgifu had spent her latter
years. A cult dedicated to the martyred King sprang up, bringing pilgrims
flocking to Shaftesbury to seek miracles at his shrine. At the Dissolution of
the Monasteries, Edward's relics were hidden by the monks to escape
desecration.
During the course of an
excavation of the Abbey in 1931, they were unearthed by a Mr. Wilson-Claridge.
An examination of the relics took place in 1970, when Edward's skeletal
remains, remarkably intact, were examined by the forensic pathologists of the
British Home office. They concluded that the remains were those of a young man
of about 20, (Edward was 17 when he died) and were able to detail with
remarkable accuracy all of his injuries, from his broken ribs and ankle and
fractured skull due to the dragging, to the nick from the assassins' blades on
his spinal column, thus confirming the historical account of his death.
Wilson-Claridge wanted
the relics to go to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. His brother,
however, wanted them to be returned to Shaftesbury Abbey. For decades, the
relics were kept in a bank vault in Woking, Surrey because of the unresolved
dispute about which of two churches should have them They were later donated to
the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, which had Edward's remains reburied
at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.
SOURCE : http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_13.htm
Ælfthryth
regardant l’assassinat d’Edouard. Illustration d’une édition victorienne
du Foxe's Book of Martyrs
March 18
St. Edward, King and
Martyr
HE was monarch of
England, and succeeded his father, the glorious King Edgar, in 975, being
thirteen years old. He followed in all things the counsels of St. Dunstan; and
his ardour in the pursuit of all virtues is not to be expressed. His great love
of purity of mind and body, and his fervent devotion, rendered him the miracle
of princes, whilst by his modesty, clemency, prudence, charity, and compassion
to the poor, he was the blessing and the delight of his subjects. His
stepmother, Elfrida, had attempted to set him aside that the crown might fall
on her own son, Ethelred, then seven years old. Notwithstanding her treasonable
practices, and the frequent proofs of her envy and jealousy, Edward always paid
her the most dutiful respect and deference, and treated his brother with the
most tender affection. But the fury of her ambition made her insensible to all
motives of religion, nature, and gratitude. The young king had reigned three
years and a half, when being one day weary with hunting in a forest near Wareham,
in Dorsetshire, he paid a visit to his step-mother at Corfesgeate, now
Corfe-castle, in the isle of Purbeck, and desired to see his young brother, at
the door. The treacherous queen caused a servant to stab him in the belly
whilst he was stooping out of courtesy, after drinking. The king set spurs to
his horse, but fell off dead, on the 18th of March, 979, his bowels being
ripped open so as to fall out. His body was plunged deep into a marsh, but
discovered by a pillar of light, and honoured by many miraculous cures of sick
persons. It was taken up and buried in the church of our Lady, at Wareham; but
found entire in three years after, and translated to the monastery at
Shaftesbury. His lungs were kept at the village called Edwardstow, in 1001: but
the chief part of his remains were deposited at Wareham, as the Saxon Chronicle
and Florence of Worcester say: but part was afterwards removed to Shaftesbury,
not Glastenbury, as Caxton mistakes. The long thin knife with which he was
stabbed, was kept in the church of Faversham, before the suppression of the
monasteries, as Hearne mentions. His name is placed in the Roman Martyrology.
The impious Elfrida, being awaked by the stings of conscience, and by the voice
of miracles, retired from the world, and built the monasteries of Wherwell and
Ambresbury, in the first of which she lived and died in the practice of
penance. The reign of her son Ethelred was weak and unfortunate, and the source
of the greatest miseries to the kingdom, especially from the Danes. See
Malmesbury, Brompton, abbot of Jorvil, in Yorkshire, and Ranulf Higden, in his
Polychronicon, published by Gale. Also an old MS. life of the saint, quoted by
Hearne, on Langtoft’s Chronicle, t. 2. p. 628. and from the MS. lives of
saints, in the hands of Mr. Sheldon, of Weston.
Rev. Alban Butler
(1711–73). Volume III: March. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/lives-of-the-saints/volume-iii-march/st-edward-king-and-martyr
_Edouard_II_le_Martyr_et_Elfride_(titel_op_object)%2C_RP-P-OB-34.225.jpg)
Francesco
Bartolozzi, Edward II de Martelaar en Elfrida, 5-nov-1786
Francesco
Bartolozzi, Edward II the Martyr and Elfrida, 5-nov-1786
Francesco
Bartolozzi, Edouard II le Martyr et Elfride, 5-nov-1786
St Edward the Martyr
Celebrated on March
18th
King. Edward was born in
962, the son of the English King Edgar and his first wife Elfleda. He succeeded
his father in 975. Three years later, when he was just 15 or 16, he was
assassinated at Corfe in Dorset, in 978, and quietly buried at Wareham. It is said
that he was on his way to visit his half brother Etheldred, when he was set
upon by Etheldred's retainers and stabbed before he could dismount from his
horse.
Etheldred was supported by the anti-monastic party in Mercia, while King Edward
and his family had been devout Christians.
Years later it was revealed that Edward had been killed on the instructions of
his stepmother Elfrida, who wanted to put her son on the throne.
Many miracles were reported to have taken place after the young king's death. His
body was reburied with great ceremony at Shaftesbury Abbey early in 979, where
he came to be venerated as a saint and martyr.
Elfrida repented of her crime and ended her days as a nun at Wherwell. Five
ancient churches were dedicated to St Edward. Some of his relics are now in an
Eastern Orthodox church in Brookwood, Surrey.
A number of lives of Edward were written in the centuries following his death.
He is today recognised as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman
Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion.
SOURCE : https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/082
.jpg)
Elevation of the Relics
of St. Edward, King and Martyr of England
20 June
THIS Edward was chosen,
being only thirteen years old, to succeed his father Edgar A.D. 975, before
which time the West Saxon kingdom had grown into that of the English generally.
He appears to have been a good young king, and beloved by his people. After a
four years' reign he was cruelly murdered, probably by the contrivance of his
stepmother AElfthryth [Elfrida], whose son Ethelred was then elected king at
the age of ten. The English Chronicles under the year 987 lament the crime
without naming the criminal. Here was Eadweard king slain at eventide at
Corfes-gate, on xv. kal. Apr., and men buried him at Waerham without any kingly
worship. Never was done worse deed among Englishmen that this since first they
sought Britain. Men murdered him, but God honoured him. He was in life an
earthly king, he is not after death a heavenly saint, etc... The Sarum
Breviary dwells much on his goodness, and he was popularly considered to have
died a martyr... Under the year 980 the Chronicles say, Here in this year
S. Dunstanus and AElfere ealdorman fetched the holy king S. Eadward's body at
Waerham, and carried it with mickle worship to Scaeftesbryig [Shaftesbury].
Florence of Worcester [anno 979] says that the body was incorrupt (Blunt).
Service to St Edward
(under Liturgica, right-hand column)
http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/
Icons of St. Edward
http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Western.html
http://www.odox.net/Icons-Edward.htm##1
http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/images/a-297.jpg
SOURCE : https://celticsaints.org/2014/0620e.html
The Life Of Among The Saints Edward The Martyr, King Of England
Compiled By Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
Boise, Idaho
USA Many saints and martyrs existed before the "Great Schism", that
took place in 1054 between the East and the West, who attested to the holy
Orthodox faith. St. Edward the Martyr is an excellent example of such a saint.
Edward is simply known as "Martyr", who was born in 960 and his holy
martyrdom took place in the year of 978. Edward was the King of England, and he
reigned from 975 to 978. His father was known as Edgar the Peaceful. I had
learned from my Mother who had traced her family history, that we are related
to St. Edward the Martyr, both myself and my family had been spiritually
pleased to learn that we could trace our family history on my Mother's side,
and to learn that we are related to not only to a King, but also a martyr of
Christianity. My Father being Greek Orthodox had told us in our early young
years, that the Church was "One" at the time of King Edward of
England. So my Mother continued to seek more information...in regards to her
side of the family, being she was Scotish and English.
We later discovered that
Edward the Martyr holy relics where transferred to a cemetery church, and
called Brookwood Cemetery, located outside of London, England, in the town of
Surrey. I also learned that the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russian
(also known as the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad), in 1979, degreed by the
Synod of Bishops that recognized the desire to obtain the holy relics of the
"The Holy Right-believing Edward, King of England, the
Passion-Bearer." Eventually the holy relics of St. Edward the Martyr where
placed in the Church of Brookwood Cemetery, in which a brotherhood of monks
exist today, under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Alexis. My Mother
had since been converted to the holy Orthodox faith, and has taken the
name: Rebecca. Since the time of her conversion to the holy Orthodox
faith, her life has changed, she has found a great deal of spiritual peace, and
has now beheld the great spiritual beauty of the faith she truly loves today.
About ten years ago, I
had the great spiritual joy to make a pilgrimage to England, and to venerate
the holy relics of St. Edward the Martyr, it was for me one of the most moving
experiences of my life, to stand and kneel before not only a holy martyr, but
also a holy right-believing King, who loved God, and who gave his soul unto
Christ our True God. Sadly enough I was only able to stay two days at the
monastery, but it was two days, I never forgot, as I left spiritually uplifted
and pleased to venerate such a holy martyr and saint of holy the Orthodox
Church.
HOLY MARTYR EDWARD, PRAY
UNTO GOD, FOR US!
WHO WAS ST. EDWARD THE
MARTYR?
ST. EDWARD was the son of
King Edgar the Peaceable, and succeeded to the throne of his father as King of
England in 975 A.D. Of his character and piety we have his testimonial from
Theodoric Paulus: "St. Edward was a young man of great devotion and
excellent conduct; he was wholly Catholic, good and and of holy life; moreover,
above all things he loved God and the Church; he was generous to the poor, a
haven to the good, a champion of the Faith of Christ, a vessel full of every
virtuous grace." He was an earnest supporter of the monastics in the life
of the Church, as his father had been before him. But this aroused the
displeasure of the powerful secular party within the Church, and, as so often
happens in Church life, that displeasure found allies with ambition and
jealousy, and the young king was brutally murdered at Corfe in Dorset in 979
A.D. After his death, the miracles worked through his intercessions have
confirmed the testimony of his pious life and his martyrdom.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HIS
RELICS
The day following his
death, the king's body was taken to Wareham and laid to rest there. No sooner
was he buried than miracles began to occur, and we read that "a spring of
clear water broke out from beside the grave, and many persons bathed their eyes
in it to receive the benefit of restored sight." On the account of the
multitude of the miracles it was decided to translate the sacred relics to
Shaftesbury; and when they were taken up from the grave, they were found to be
whole and incorrupt. This translation and the reburial of the saint with full
royal honors took place in 981 A.D. In the year 1001 A.D., the sacred relics
were again taken up from the grave and placed in an elaborate shrine in the
Shaftesbury Abbey church, because, through the miraculous
"levitation" of his tomb, the saint had made known that he wished to
be exhumed. This "levitation" was inf act the slight raising of the
tomb from the ground each day, and was witnessed by many. The relics at this
time were found to be fragrant, and the bishops there bore witness that they
felt that they were standing amid the delights of paradise. So great was the
fame of St. Edward that the town of Shaftesbury became known as St. Edward's
Borough.
THE PROTESTANT
REFORMATION
In the sixteenth century,
during the reign of Henery VIII, when, at his command, the dissolution of the
English monasteries began, when so many holy places were demolished, the sacred
relics of St. Edward escaped destruction, being hidden, perhaps by the nuns of
the abbey, perhaps by Henry's Royal Commissioners themselves, for it must be
remembered that only two years previous to the dissolution King Henery had
desired a long-awaited heir to his throne, whose name was Prince Edward. The
destruction of the undoubted remains of a saint, martyr and former King of
England bearing the same name as the heir, the king's only son, would without
doubt have provoked the wrath of the monarch.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY
RELICS
In 1931, the sacred and
holy relics were recovered during an archaeological excavation conducted at the
ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey by the present donor, Mr. Wilson-Claridge. The bones
were later examined by Dr. T.E.A. Stowell, an eminent osteologist, who, at the
end of a lengthy report on the bones, concludes: "I cannot escape the
conviction on historical, anatomical and surgical grounds that, beyond all
reasonable doubt, we have here the bones of St. Edward, King and Martyr."
THE DONATION OF THE HOLY
RELICS TO THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
Since 1979, the appointed
Administrator in England of the British Diocese, of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia, Archimandrite Alexis heard of the holy relics of King Edward
and wrote to the present donor, who, after some correspondence, agreed to give
them to the Church to be reverently enshrined. A decree from the Synod of
Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, dated 15/28 March
1979, recognized the desire to obtain the holy relics and asked for some
evidence of the authenticity of the bones. It seems that the bishops were
impressed by the similarity between the Life of St. Edward and the
circumstances of his murder and that of the holy Russian passion-bearers Boris
and Gleb. On 6/19 September the Synod of Bishops decided to accept without reservations
the authenticity of the holy relics wheich were being offered to the Church
(encylical no.255). Later onwards Fr. Theodore Jurewicz was commisioned by the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to paint an icon of St. Edward the
Martyr, and a service was prepared to St. Edward.
The progress continued
after many kind faithful Orthodox helped to donate land, and prepare a Shrine
Church in honor of St. Edward the Martyr. A Church which already existed in the
Brookwood Cemetery, in Woking, Surrey England, became the final place to for
the holy relics of St. Edward, and a Brotherhood was organized. The cemetery
has also become a place for many ethnic Orthodox Christians, as a resting
place.
LOCATION OF THE CHURCH OF
ST. EDWARD THE MARTYR
A Russian Orthodox
Brotherhood exist within the Brookwood Cemetery, located in Woking, Surrey
England, and the directions to the Church are:
THE
BROOKWOOD CEMETERY SOCIETY : The St Edward Brotherhood
Archimandrite Alexis and
several monks and novices are cartakers of the Holy Church of St. Edward the
Martyr.
The address is:
St. Edward Brotherhood
St. Cyprianos Ave.
Brookwood, Woking
England U. K.
Tel. 44(0)1483-48-7763
Thanks To The Kind
Assistance Of The Servant Of The Lord, John
Holy Saint Edward,
Pray To God For Us!
Glory Be To God For All
Things!
Content written/compiled by Father Nektarios Serfes.
(c)Father Nektarios Serfes
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20131102020653/http://www.serfes.org/lives/stedward.htm
Miniature
d'Édouard le Martyr dans une généalogie royale du XIIIe siècle.
Sant' Edoardo II il
Martire Re d’Inghilterra
962 circa - 18 marzo 979
Il regno di Sant'Edoardo,
nipote del re Atelstano e figlio di Edgardo il Pacifico, fu breve e tragico.
Assassinato a tradimento dalla matrigna Elfrida nel 978, egli assurse al rango
di santo per la sua devozione alla Chiesa e la sua morte violenta, subita per
mano di coloro che tramavano contro la sua legittima regalità. La sua figura,
venerata nella diocesi di Plymouth e raffigurata con il pugnale simbolo del
martirio, rappresenta un esempio emblematico di santità regale anglosassone,
paragonabile a quella di altri re martiri come San Chenelmo e Santi Etelberto e
Sigeberto II.
Emblema: Corona,
Palma, Pugnale
Martirologio
Romano: Presso la cittadina di Wareham in Inghilterra, sant’Edoardo, che,
re degli Angli, fu ucciso ancora giovane con malvagio inganno dai sicari della
sua matrigna.
Occorre innanzitutto specificare, per raccapezzarsi nella folta schiera di santità sorta presso le corti reali inglesi, che il santo in questione è il re Sant'Edoardo II il Martire, zio del quasi omonimo re Sant'Edoardo III il Confessore, festeggiato invece il 5 gennaio.
Edoardo II, dunque, era figlio del re Sant'Edgaro il Pacifico e della sua prima consorte Etelfleda, che morì non molti anni dopo la sua nascita, avvenuta all'incirca nel 962. Ricevette il battesimo dal celebre San Dunstano, titolare della sede arcivescovile di Canterbury e primo ministro reale.
Alla morte di Edgaro, il malcontento di alcuni cavalieri portò al tentativo di incoronazione del piccolo Etelredo, nato dal secondo matrimonio con Elfrida. Questa possibilità si scontrò però con l'opposizione del santo vescovo, che preferì incoronare egli stesso Edoardo II quale nuovo sovrano l'8 luglio 975. Anche se appena ragazzo, il nuovo re possedeva indubbiamente un temperamento vile ed un'innata inclinazione alla violenza, fattore che non poteva non renderlo ostile agli altri. L'opposizione nei suoi confronti continuò a crescere, nonostante fosse costantemente seguito nell'opera di governo da Dunstano. Alfero di Mercia dedise di intraprendere il saccheggio e la distruzione dei monasteri presenti nel regno, vanificando così in un battibaleno tutta la preziosa opera che il vescovo aveva realizzato ed Edoardo II aveva sostenuto in vario modo. Ma questa fu solamente una delle tante reazioni alla fitta politica di alleanza e reciproco sostegno instauratasi fra la monarchia e la Chiesa inglesi. Il monachesimo, sempre più emergente ed attivo nella vita di corte, avrebbe potuto compromettere inoltre il potere dei cavalieri.
Il biografo Osvaldo di Worcester narra che fu allora tramato un complotto finalizzato all'uccisione del re, dopo neppure quattro anni dalla sua ascesa al trono. Tutte le cronache sono concordi nel sostenere la tesi dell'assassinio di Edoardo II, ma Guglielmo di Malmesbury e lo stesso Osvaldo si spingono oltre, attribuendo l'iniziativa ai sostenitori di Etelredo ed in particolare a sua madre Elfrida. Constatando però anche l'ostilità provata da Alfero di Mercia, si può supporre che la cospirazione nei confronti del giovane sovrano ebbe sicuramente basi assai ampie.
In ogni caso il tragico evento si consumò presso il castello di Corfe-Gap nel Dorset, residenza di Etelredo ed Elfrida, ove Edoardo fu convocato dal fratellastro in seguito ad una battuta di caccia. Giuntovi dunque a cavallo, privo di scorta, la matrigna ordinò di coglierlo di sorpresa con una pugnalata. Spronato con urgenza il cavallo, un piede di Edoardo scivolò dalla staffa ed egli, caduto di sella, rimase ancorato solo più con un piede all'animale, che lo trascinò per un lungo tragitto. La morte, ormai inevitabile, lo raggiunse così il 18 marzo 979. Ufficialmente mai nessuno fu mai incolpato dell'accaduto, ma una leggenda vuole che la malvagia matrigna sia poi entrata nel monastero di Wherewell in segno di espiazione per la sua grande colpa di mandante dell'omicidio.
La vicenda Sant'Edoardo II è paragonabile a quella di altri santi re anglosassoni, come San Chenelmo ed Santi Etelberto e Sigeberto II dell'Est-Anglia. Come avvenuto anche per molti martiri del XX secolo, il concetto di martirio è stato dunque esteso a casi di morte violenta a causa della giustizia, “per testimonium caritatis heroicis”. Tuttavia il culto nei confronti del re Edoardo II non fu dettato solo dall'essere stato ucciso ingiustamente adempiendo il proprio dovere, ma anche dal divulgarsi di molti racconti di miracoli verificatisi sulla sua tomba a Shaftesbury, ove le sue reliquie erano state traslate. Il santo sovrano martire è ancora festeggiato in particolar modo nella diocesi di Plymouth. Oltre che con gli attributi tipici di un re e di un martire, Edoardo viene raffigurato anche con il pugnale, oggetto protagonista del suo martirio. La presenza di molte icone orientali del santo e dovuta dalla presenza di alcune sue reliquie nella chiesa ortodossa di Brookwood, nel Surrey. Proprio perché vissuto prima del grande scisma, anche parecchie Chiese orientali lo annoverano nei loro calendari.
Autore: Fabio Arduino
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92373
Den hellige kong Edvard
Martyren (~962-978)
Minnedag: 18.
mars
Den hellige Edvard (eng:
Edward, Eadweard) ble født rundt 962 i England. Han var sønn av den hellige
angelsaksiske kongen Edgar av England (den
fredsommelige) (957-75) og hans første hustru Elfleda (Æthelflaed) Eneda
(«White-Duck»). Edvard ble døpt og fikk sin utdannelse av den hellige
erkebiskop Dunstan
av Canterbury. Han var yngre halvbror til den hellige Edith av Wilton (f.
961), kong Edgars illegitime datter med sin konkubine, den hellige Wulfrida av Wilton.
Moren døde tidlig, og da Edvard var seks år gammel, giftet Edgar seg på nytt
med Elfrida (Alfthryth, Aelfthryth), datter av ealdorman Ordgar av
Devonshire. Hun fødte ham to sønner, Edmund, som døde ung, og den senere kong
Ethelred (Aethelred) (978-1016), som altså ble Edvards yngre halvbror. Han ble
også (posthum) onkel til den hellige kong Edvard bekjenneren (1042-66),
Ethelreds sønn. På denne tiden var det vestsaksiske kongeriket Wessex vokst til
kongeriket England.
Da kong Edgar døde i 975,
ble Edvard ny konge, bare tretten år gammel. Hans tronbestigelse ble bestridt
av hans stemor Elfrida, som ønsket at hennes egen syvårige sønn Ethelred skulle
overta tronen. Men ved hjelp av Dunstans innflytelse ble Edvard som eldste sønn
valgt av witanen, kongens råd, og han ble kronet av Dunstan i Winchester.
Til tross for den nye kongens unge alder hadde han et forferdelig humør og en
tilbøyelighet til vold som ikke gjorde ham kjær for andre. En kronikør
refererer også til moren Elfledas status. For Edgar var ikke blitt kronet mens
hun levde, enten det var på grunn av en følelse av egen uverdighet eller det
var fordi erkebiskop Dunstan ville straffe ham for hans ungdommelige irregulære
forhold til Wulfrida. Men to år før Edgars død ble han og Elfrida kronet av
Dunstan til konge og dronning. Ethelred var derfor sønn av en ekte, kronet
dronning, men det var ikke Edvard.
Selv om erkebiskop
Dunstan støttet Edvard med hele embetets prestisje og veiledet ham i styringen
av kongeriket, holdt de negative følelsene mot den unge kongen seg. Edgars død
hadde gitt nytt mot til det reaksjonære partiet i Mercia, som ønsket den unge
Ethelred til konge. Straks kom det en anti-monastisk reaksjon, og det ble
rettet et kraftig angrep på munkene, som var talsmenn for reformen. Over hele
Mercia ble de angrepet, spredt og fratatt sine eiendommer av jarl Elfhere, og
Dunstans store verk, som han hadde skapt med Edgars hjelp, ble revet ned. Men
munkenes sak ble støttet av jarl Ethelwine av East Anglia (Norfolk og Suffolk),
og riket var truet av borgerkrig. For å løse disse disputtene, ble det holdt
tre møter i witanen, i Kyrtlington, Calne og Amesbury. I Calne styrtet
golvet i salen sammen, slik at alle falt ned i rommet under, unntatt Dunstan,
som klamret seg fast til en bjelke, og mange døde.
I følge den hellige Osvald av Worcesters
biograf ble det lagt et komplott for å ta livet av den sekstenårige kongen, og
han led en voldsom død for morderhånd den 18. mars (?) 978 i Corfe Castle
(Corfe-Gap) i Dorsetshire. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle beskriver hans
død under året 987: «Her ble kong Eadweard slått i hjel om aftenen
ved Corfes-gate, på xv. kal. Apr., og menn gravla ham i Wareham uten noen
kongelige æresbevisninger. Aldri var det gjort verre udåd blant engelskmenn enn
denne siden de kom til Britannia for første gang. Menn myrdet ham, men Gud æret
ham». Sarum-breviaret dveler mye ved hans godhet, og han var folkelig betraktet
som martyr. Historien sa at Edvard ble stukket ned av sin halvbror Ethelreds
menn da han var på vei for å besøke broren. Den tiårige broren ble ny konge som
Ethelred II den Rådville (978-1016).
Under året 980 sier
krøniken: «Her i dette året hentet St. Dunstanus og Aelfere ealdorman den
hellige kong Eadwards legeme i Waerham og bar det with mickle worship til
Scaeftesbryig [Shaftesbury]». Florence av Worcester [anno 979] sier at legemet
var intakt.
Historikeren William av
Malmesbury (ca 1080-1143), som skrev på 1100-tallet etter et Passio fra
1000-tallet, gir oss flere detaljer. Skurken i historien var Elfrida, Ethelreds
mor og Edvards stemor, som ønsket makt for seg selv og sin sønn. Edvard kom til
Corfe fra en jakt, og mens hans ledsagere så til hundene, «lokket hun ham til
seg med kvinnelig smiger og fikk ham til å lene seg forover, og etter å ha
hilst ham mens han ivrig drakk av begeret som hadde blitt gitt ham, stakk en av
tjenerne en dolk gjennom ham». Edvard satte sporene i hesten, men en fot gled
og han ble dratt etter den andre foten gjennom skogen til han døde, mens hans
blod lå igjen som et spor etter ham. Enkedronning Elfrida sendte ut sine menn
for å følge kongens blodige spor og ta hånd om liket. Hun ga ordre om at det
skulle begraves i Wareham Priory i Dorsetshire, men ikke på hellig grunn og
uten all kongelig pomp og prakt.
Ingen ble noen sinne
stilt for retten for udåden, men «den onde stemoren», som var svært vakker,
skal senere ha sonet for sin udåd gjennom å bli nonne i Wherwell. Dette synet
på hvem som hadde ansvaret for udåden, vant frem, og det vises ved at den sene
middelalderkatalogen over engelske helgener, Cathalogus Sanctorum in
Anglia Pausancium fra 1300-tallet, beskriver Edvard som «drept ved
svik fra sin stemor».
Et lys fra himmelen ble
senere sagt å ha skint over kong Edvards beskjedne grav, og det ble meldt om
mange mirakler der. Som en god ung mann som var blitt urettferdig og grusomt
drept, så folk på ham som en helgen og kalte ham Edvard Martyren, selv om det
er liten grunn for det, ettersom han ikke kan sies å ha blitt drept for sin
tros skyld. Men han var drept per testimonium caritatis heroicis, «ved å
vise heroisk nestekjærlighet», og det klarte seg.
Den 18. februar 980
foretok erkebiskop Dunstan sammen med jarl Elfhere av Mercia en translasjon av
Edvards relikvier fra den enkle graven i Wareham til et praktfullt gravmæle i
klosterkirken i nonneklosteret Skephtonia i Shaftesbury, som var grunnlagt av
den hellige kong Alfred
den Store av Wessex og England (871-99). Den 20. juni 1001 ble Edvards
levninger flyttet til et mer prominent sted i klosteret. Seremonien skal ha
blitt ledet av den daværende biskopen av Sherborne, Wulfsige III, fulgt av en
høyere kleriker som Passio Sancti Eadwardi kaller Elsinus, noen
ganger identifisert med Ælfsige, abbed av New Minster i Winchester. Kong
Ethelred var opptatt med trusselen om en dansk invasjon, og var ikke til stede,
men trolig skjedde translasjonen med hans velsignelse, for i et dokument fra
Ethelred samme år ble Edvard offisielt kalt «helgen og martyr», og i 1008 ga
Ethelred lover som beordret at brorens fest skulle feires over hele England.
Bevarte kalendere og litanier viser en vidt spredt kult fra tidlig på
1000-tallet.
Den unge kongen hadde i
sin korte regjeringstid besøkt helligdommen for Vår Frue av Abingdon, som ble
sagt å ha vært den eldste i England og inneholdt en romersk skulptur av Jomfru
Maria. Senere sendte hans egen helligdom i Shaftesbury deler av hans legeme til
Glastonbury, Salisbury, Leominster og Durham. Da de som fraktet relikviene
reiste gjennom Berkshire, ble de på mirakuløst vis stanset i Abingdon, og
ettersom helgenen åpenbart ønsket å bli i byen, bestemte de seg for å etterlate
mange av relikviene i klosterkirken. En liten eske med Edvards relikvier ble
oppdaget i 1931.
Klosteret i Shaftesbury
ble ødelagt i 1539 på ordre av Thomas Cromwell som en del av oppløsningen av
klostrene i England. Edvards levninger ble gjemt for å unngå vanhelligelse. I
1931 ble relikviene gjenfunnet av Wilson-Claridge under en arkeologisk utgravning,
og deres identitet ble stadfestet av dr. T.E.A. Stowell, en osteolog. I 1970
viste undersøkelser av relikviene at den unge mannen var drept på samme måte
som beskrives om Edvard. Wilson-Claridge ønsket at relikviene skulle gå til Den
russisk-ortodokse kirke i eksil, mens hans bror ønsket at de skulle returneres
til Shaftesbury Abbey. I flere tiår ble relikviene oppbevart i et bankhvelv i
Woking i Surrey på grunn av den uløste disputten.
Til slutt vant Den
russisk-ortodokse kirke i eksil og plasserte relikviene i en kirke på Brookwood
kirkegård i Woking nær Guildford i Surrey, i en skrinleggingsseremoni i
september 1984. Munkebrorskapet St Edward ble også organiser der. Kirken heter
nå St Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church, og den er under jurisdiksjon av en
tradisjonalistisk gresk-ortodoks kommunitet. De feirer en translasjonsdag den
3. september, da hans relikvier ble overført til kirken i Brookwood.
Edvards minnedag i
Martyrologium Romanum er den 18. mars, mens translasjonsfesten feires den 20.
juni. Det er også en translasjonsfest den 13. februar. Hans fest feires i dag i
det katolske bispedømmet Plymouth. Edvard avbildes i kunsten som en ungdommelig
konge med septer eller sverd, og han holder et beger eller en ravn, noen ganger
har han en dolk i sin venstre hånd. Han kan også holde en falk, som henviser
til hans siste jakt. Bevis for hans kult er en avlat for besøkende til hans
skrin, gitt av biskop Robert Hallum av Salisbury (1404-17). Fem gamle kirker
var viet til ham.
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Butler (III), Benedictines, Bunson,
Schauber/Schindler, Melchers, Dammer/Adam, ODNB, CE, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN,
Infocatho, Heiligenlexikon, santiebeati.it, en.wikipedia.org, britannia.com,
earlybritishkingdoms.com, celt-saints, zeno.org - Kompilasjon og
oversettelse: p.
Per Einar Odden
Opprettet: 3. juni 1998
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/edvarmar
Edward de Martelaar, Shaftesbury,
Engeland; koning & martelaar; † 979.
Feest 18 maart &
20 juni (overbrenging relieken naar Shaftesbury: 980).
Hij was de zoon van
koning Edgar en diens eerste vrouw Eathelflaed. Hoewel zijn troonopvolging
verre van gladjes verliep, werd hij toch koning over Engeland vooral door
toedoen van bisschop Dunstan. Hij werd het slachtoffer van een moordaanslag. De
historici menen dat dit nog een nasleep was van de troonopvolgingskwestie. Een anti-monastieke
partij uit het gewest Mercia koos tegen Dunstan en diens beschermeling en
schoof Edwards halfbroer Ethelred naar voren. Deze was nog jonger dan Edward.
Het eind van het verhaal vermeldt dat Edward werd gedood in de avondschemering
bij de stadspoort van Corfe, en dat hij zonder enig plechtig vertoon werd
begraven. Al snel begonnen er wonderen te gebeuren op die plaats. Door toedoen
van Dunstan werden zijn relieken overgebracht naar klooster Shaftesbury. Zijn
opvolger Ethelred bepaalde dat hij heilig was en dat hem officiële verering
toekwam.
Tweehonderd jaar later
vertelt zijn levensbeschrijver, William van Malmesbury, dat zijn dood niet
zozeer te wijten was aan haatdragende troonpretendenten, maar aan de boze
inborst van zijn stiefmoeder Aethelthryth; deze was knap en mooi. Zij was het
die macht begeerde voor zichzelf en haar zoon Ethelred. Op een avond kwam
Edward terug van de jacht nabij Corfe. Terwijl zijn lijfwachten zich
bezighielden met de verzorging van de honden, reikte zij hem een beker aan waar
hij zich gretig naar voorover boog. Op dat moment werd hij doorboord door een
dolksteek van één van haar lijfwachten. Hij wilde zijn paard de sporen geven,
maar zijn ene voet bleef haken, en zo werd hij door zijn eigen rijdier door de
struiken gesleept, een spoor van bloed achterlatend. Aldus stierf hij.
Later zou die
schoonmoeder spijt hebben gekregen van haar misdaad en als kloosterlinge een
leven van boete zijn gaan leiden in het klooster van Wherwell.
Zijn voorspraak wordt ingeroepen tegen klierziekten.
Afgebeeld
Edward wordt vaak afgebeeld met zijn martelwerktuig, de dolk of het ponjaard.
Bronnen
[011; [111; 113»E.-Corfe; 122; 142jr0978; 200/1; Dries van den Akker
s.j./2010.04.03]
© A. van den Akker
s.j. / A.W. Gerritsen
SOURCE : https://www.heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/03/18/03-18-0979-edward.php
Eduard der Märtyrer
altenglisch: Eadweard
auch: von England
Gedenktag katholisch: 18. März
Übertragung der Gebeine: 13. Februar
Empfang der Reliquien in Shaftesbury: 18. Februar
in England: Übertragung der Gebeine: 20. Juni
Komemoration im Kloster Brookwood: 2. September
Gedenktag orthodox: 18. März
Beisetzung der Reliquien in der orthodoxen Kirche in Brookwood im Jahr 1984: 3.
September
Name bedeutet: Hüter
des Besitzes (althochdt.)
König von England, Märtyrer
* 963 in England
† 18. März (?) 978 bei Corfe
Castle in England
Eduard war der älteste
Sohn des englischen Königs Edgar
des Friedfertigen und einer unbekannten Nonne aus dem Kloster Wilton.
Erzogen wurde er von Dunstan,
dem Erzbischof von Canterbury,
und schon im Alter von 13 Jahren wurde er 975 auf dessen und Erzbischof Oswalds Betreiben
Regent, wogegen aber seine Stiefmutter Ælfryth mit Intrigen opponierte, da sie
ihren eigenen Sohn Æthelred als König sehen wollte. Bei einer Jagd wurde Eduard
meuchlings erstochen, als er gerade durstig den Becher zum Munde führte; ob
tatsächlich Ælfryth und Æthelred diese Tat veranlassten, ist nicht nachweisbar,
aber sie waren die Nutznießer.
Die Überlieferung sagt,
dass sich an Eduards Grab in Wareham schon
bald Wunder ereigneten. Zwei Jahre nach seinem Tod wurden seine Gebeine in
ein Kloster in Shaftesbury überführt.
Sein Stiefbruder Æthelred förderte die Verehrung und bezeichnete ihn schon 1001
in einem Dokument als Heiligen und Märtyrer. Über das Kloster in St.
Gallen wurde die Verehrung auch auf dem Kontinent verbreitet. Kaiser
Maximilian I. verehrte Eduard als Heiligen aus dem Kreis seiner Vorfahren.
Attribute: Becher,
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Quellen:
• Vera Schauber, Hanns Michael Schindler: Heilige und Patrone im Jahreslauf. Pattloch, München 2001
• Hiltgard L. Keller: Reclams Lexikon der Heiligen und der biblischen Gestalten. Reclam, Ditzingen 1984
• Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, begr. von Michael Buchberger. Hrsg. von Walter Kasper, 3., völlig neu bearb. Aufl., Bd. 3. Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995
• Charlotte Bretscher-Gisinger, Thomas Meier (Hg.): Lexikon des Mittelalters.
CD-ROM-Ausgabe J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2000
korrekt zitieren: Joachim Schäfer: Artikel Eduard der Märtyrer, aus dem Ökumenischen Heiligenlexikon - https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienE/Eduard_von_England.htm, abgerufen am 5. 5. 2024
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet das Ökumenische
Heiligenlexikon in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte
bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über https://d-nb.info/1175439177 und https://d-nb.info/969828497 abrufbar.
SOURCE : https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienE/Eduard_von_England.htm
Folz, Robert, « Trois saints rois
« souffre-passion » en Angleterre: Osvin de Deira, Ethelbert
d'Est-Anglie, Édouard le Martyr », Comptes rendus des séances de
l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres Année 1980 124-1 pp.
36-49 https://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_1980_num_124_1_13680
Voir aussi : http://orthodoxievco.net/ecrits/vies/synaxair/mars/edouard.pdf
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Edward_the_Martyr
http://www.serfes.org/lives/stedward.htm