Edward the Martyr (
Old English:
Eadweard; c. 962 – 18 March 978) was
King of England from 975 until he was murdered in 978. Edward was the eldest son of King
Edgar the Peaceful but was not his father's acknowledged
heir. On Edgar's death, the leadership of England was contested, with some supporting Edward's claim to be king and others supporting his much younger half-brother
Æthelred the Unready, recognized as a legitimate son of Edgar. Edward was chosen as king and was crowned by his main clerical supporters, the archbishops
Dunstan and
Oswald of Worcester.