When edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin æthelwold, who had a strong claim to the throne as the son of alfred's elder brother and predecessor, æthelred i As ruler of the west saxons, or wessex, from 899 to 924, edward extended his authority over almost all of england by conquering areas that previously had been held by danish invaders. He fought against the vikings, consolidated his dynasty's control over southern england and married aelfflaed, daughter of a mercian ealdorman. This was the title that edward inherited when his father died When he succeeded the throne, in response aethelwold launched his rebellion from wimbourne in dorset and seized royal estates whilst making threats towards the new king. Edward raised an army and marched to nearby badbury rings
Aethelwold declared that he would live or die at wimborne, but it was an empty threat, for he stole away in the dead of night and made his way to northumbria, where he was acclaimed as king He sailed back to wessex in 901 with an army. In season 5 of the last kingdom, king edward rules in wessex, though insidious forces move in the shadows against him, so, who was edward How did he become king, and what how did he deal with the vikings We bring you a quick guide to the alfred the great's successor. Edward also reorganized the church in wessex, creating new bishoprics at ramsbury and sonning, wells and crediton
