6) King of England: Eadwig, 955-959

The history of England's kings is rich and complex, marked by powerful dynasties, wars of succession, political reforms and events that profoundly influenced the course of British and world history.
Eadwig, 955-959
King of England
Middle Ages: Saxon
Eadwig, also known as Eadwig the Fair, was king of England from 955 to 959. His short reign was marked by internal tensions and conflicts with the Church. Born around 941, Eadwig was the eldest son of King Edmund I and Ælfgifu. He came to the throne at the age of fourteen after the death of his uncle, King Eadred.
His reign began with a scandal at his coronation in 956. Eadwig slipped away from the ceremony to spend time with Ælfgifu, who may have been his wife, and his mother. This behavior shocked the Church, and Saint Dunstan, then Bishop of London, publicly reprimanded him, causing a rift between the king and Dunstan.
Eadwig fails to maintain the unity of his kingdom. In 957, dissensions among the nobility led to a division of the kingdom; his younger brother Edgar was proclaimed king of the Mercians and Northumbrians, while Eadwig retained Wessex and Kent.
His conflicting relations with the Church and the nobles continued to mark his reign. He is often described as a king who favored his favorites over the more established aristocracy and important ecclesiastical figures.
Eadwig died in 959, aged around 18, under unclear circumstances. After his death, his brother Edgar reunified the kingdom and is often considered a more effective and popular ruler.