Born on Christmas Day 841 AD, Edmund succeeded to the throne of East
Anglia in 856. A Christian from birth, he fought alongside King Alfred
of Wessex against the pagan Viking and Norse invaders (the Great Heathen
Army) until 869/70 when his forces were defeated and Edmund was captured
by the Vikings. He was ordered to renounce his faith and share power
with the pagan Vikings, but he refused.
According to the 10th century account of the saint's life by Abbo of
Fleury, who quotes St Dunstan as his source, Edmund was then bound to
a tree, shot through by arrows and beheaded.
It is uncertain where he was killed; some accounts state Bradfield St
Clare near Bury St Edmunds, others Maldon in Essex or Hoxne in Suffolk.
What is known is that in 902 his remains were moved to Bedricsworth
(modern Bury St. Edmunds) where King Athelstan founded a religious community
to care for his shrine which became a place of national pilgrimage.
King Canute built a stone abbey on the site in 1020 to house the shrine.
For centuries Edmund's resting place was patronised by the Kings of
England and the abbey became increasingly wealthy as the cult of St
Edmund grew.
St Edmund's influence began to fade when, during the Third Crusade in
1199, King Richard I visited the tomb of St. George in Lydda on the
eve of battle. The next day he won a great victory. Following this triumph,
Richard adopted St. George as his personal patron and protector of the
army.
Although the banner of St. Edmund was still carried into battle by the
English army, by the time of Edward I it had been joined by the flag
of St. George.
In 1348, Edward III founded a new order of chivalry, the Knights of
the Garter. Edward made St George the patron of the Order and also declared
him Patron Saint of England.
