Edgar the Aethling

Could Edgar gain or recover the throne of England ?

In 1066, when his great-uncle Edward the Confessor died, Edgar was 15.

Let's say Edward names his great-nephew before he died heir to throne. Yes there was his age, but there were precedents in Anglo-Saxon history :

1. Eadwig of England became King aged 15
2. Edgar the Peaceful became king aged 19
3.Edward the Martyr became King aged 13
4. Aethelred the Unready became King aged 10 !

If Edward the Confessor names a clear heir, Saxon nobles will accept him at least if the heir is a Saxon ( just like the French barons in 1328). So maybe this can butterfly the Norman conquest ? Plus, maybe could Harold usurp the throne and then Edgar calls the Norman's help (just like in Sicily) and reward them with land, so we will assist to a mini-Norman Conquest.

Anyways do you guys have any thoughts ?
 
If Edward the Confessor names a clear heir, Saxon nobles will accept him at least if the heir is a Saxon ( just like the French barons in 1328). So maybe this can butterfly the Norman conquest ? Plus, maybe could Harold usurp the throne and then Edgar calls the Norman's help (just like in Sicily) and reward them with land, so we will assist to a mini-Norman Conquest.

Anyways do you guys have any thoughts ?

Saxon nobles accepted Harold. Didn't deter William.

And given that when Edward died, the realm needed a king who could act, I think they're going to pass him over - in more settled times, but not 1066.
 
Can't they name Harold, Regent? If not, is it plausible that Harold first defeats the Norwegian, than later Edgar ask for Norman help, to kick out the too much powerful Harold (although this could prove to be unpopular against Saxon nobility).
 
Can't they name Harold, Regent? If not, is it plausible that Harold first defeats the Norwegian, than later Edgar ask for Norman help, to kick out the too much powerful Harold (although this could prove to be unpopular against Saxon nobility).

Why would they name him regent instead of king?

And why would Edgar ask for help from someone who is claiming the throne of England?
 
Why would they name him regent instead of king?

And why would Edgar ask for help from someone who is claiming the throne of England?

Well, one of my questions was that if Edward names a Edgar as clear heir to the throne, will Harold do a coup. Probably . Maybe Edgar could ask help from the Normans, just like he did OTL with the Scots ?

Anyways do you have any scenarios in mind, where Edgar gain/recover the throne of England ?
 
Well, one of my questions was that if Edward names a Edgar as clear heir to the throne, will Harold do a coup. Probably .

Edward can name him until "Edgar" is heard in China. If the Witenagemot decides Harold is the next king, Edgar is shit out of luck - Edward's wishes are only as relevant as they think they are.

Maybe Edgar could ask help from the Normans, just like he did OTL with the Scots ?

Again, why would Edgar ask someone who has a claim to the throne to help him gain it? This is not comparable to asking the Scots for help.

Anyways do you have any scenarios in mind, where Edgar gain/recover the throne of England ?

Harold wins at Hastings. Between then and his death, Edgar establishes himself as someone to take seriously, Harold's sons don't (or die young). When Harold dies, Edgar claims the throne.
 
Edward can name him until "Edgar" is heard in China. If the Witenagemot decides Harold is the next king, Edgar is shit out of luck - Edward's wishes are only as relevant as they think they are.



Again, why would Edgar ask someone who has a claim to the throne to help him gain it? This is not comparable to asking the Scots for help.



Harold wins at Hastings. Between then and his death, Edgar establishes himself as someone to take seriously, Harold's sons don't (or die young). When Harold dies, Edgar claims the throne.


Ok, so if he cannot ask the Normans, maybe he could gain support from rival earls of Harold (Morcar and his brother maybe ?).

What if Harold repulses the two invasions, could Edgar later rebels and topple off Harold or Harold will be at that time too much powerful? Maybe Edgar could exploit dissatisfaction of Harold's rule ?
 
Ok, so if he cannot ask the Normans, maybe he could gain support from rival earls of Harold (Morcar and his brother maybe ?).
Morcar and his brother are a little busy with more pressing matters - they'd probably prefer Harold as a king actually able to do some good.

What if Harold repulses the two invasions, could Edgar later rebels and topple off Harold or Harold will be at that time too much powerful? Maybe Edgar could exploit dissatisfaction of Harold's rule ?

Edgar doesn't necessarily have much of a power base - what he acquires would have to come from having built something up.

And why would there be dissatisfaction with Harold's rule? This isn't impossible, it just feels forced.
 
I think it would be cooler if he carved out a polity for himself during the first Crusade. Apparently he was there at about the right time.
 
even if Harold won, then Edgar would still be a serious contender for the throne when he got around dying, with or without any of Harolds children around ...

The reason why Edgar wasn't chosen when there is precedent for younger kings, is that at the time where Edward died, Witengamot knew that there was completing claims (Norway and Denmark had indisputeable claims and Normandy much iffy), from persons that wasn't affraid of pushing them, and they wanted a strong native general.

When it goes back to peacetime Edgar, by his ancestry of Wessex, have a good shot at gaining the throne when it get free.
 
Edgar can become king a number of ways; it depends on which real-life events are changed. Suppose, for instance, William the Conqueror doesn't survive the turmoil of his own early reign. The greatest obstacle to Edgar's succession is thereby eliminated. The second-greatest obstacle can be, if not eliminated, at least made much less of a threat, if Edward the Exile and his family return to England in 1051 and Edward the Exile manages to establish himself and is named as the Confessor's heir. If the Exile succeeds the Confessor smoothly, Edgar's later succession is virtually assured. Finally, if Edward the Confessor lives another 5 years or so, thus putting the crisis off for a while, Edgar the Atheling and some potential allies (Edwin; Morcar; Waltheof) will be older and hopefully better leaders by then. And, as other writers have said, Edgar's position would be strong if the Confessor openly designated Edgar as his heir.

P.S., I don't think that Edgar carried enough prestige with the other crusaders to be chosen king of Jerusalem, but ruling another principality in the East (maybe Ascalon?) is plausible, especially if Edgar took the lead in the capture of the place.
 
Yes, apparently he came with a fleet so he could be involved with the capture of a coastal city and have it as his fief.
 
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