Edward comes from the Anglo-Saxon name Eadweard, which means wealth (Ead) and protector (Weard).
England, or parts of it, has had eleven kings named Edward, including two saints, three murdered kings, three child kings, and four great warriors.
Edward the Elder reigned between 899 and 924 as King of the Anglo-Saxons. He was the eldest son of Alfred the Great and the father of England’s first three kings. He is considered one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon warlords.
Edward the Martyr reigned from 975–978, and it is believed that he was murdered by his ‘evil’ stepmother, Queen Æthelfryth to make way for her son to take the throne.
Edward, the Confessor, was King of England from 1042–1066. Incredibly pious, his reign was peaceful but dominated by his powerful in-laws, the Godwins. Having spent time in Normandy, he encouraged French influences in England. The original Westminster Abbey was built under his reign.
And here we begin regnal reigns with Edward I, nicknamed Longshanks, who was King of England from 1270 until 1307. He was named after Edward the Confessor and was one of England’s most successful kings. Among his feats, he went on Crusade, allowed the Commons to attend Parliament, conquered Wales, and dominated Scotland, earning him a second nickname: Hammer of the Scots.
Edward II was the son of Edward I; unfortunately, he did not inherit his father’s popularity or acumen. He reigned from 1307 until he was overthrown by his wife and her lover in 1327. His life ended in suspicious circumstances not long after.
Edward III fared much better than his unfortunate father. Reigning between 1327 and 1377. He ushered in the age of chivalry, had multiple victories in France, took the kings of France and Scotland as hostages, and founded the Order of the Garter. And is considered one of England’s greatest warrior kings.
Edward IV reigned twice as King of England, the first time from 1461 to 1470 and again from 1471 to 1483. He took the throne via conquest while still a teenager. King by nineteen, he was a great warrior and never lost a battle.
Edward V, while the rightful king, never actually reigned. He was just twelve when he came to the throne, but his guardian was killed, and he magically disappeared before ever taking his place on the throne.
Edward VI was England’s last child king. He reigned for six years, between 1547 and 1553. As the son of Henry VIII, he was very well educated and a radical Protestant, all in favour of furthering the Reformation, started, albeit half-heartedly, by his father.
Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom between 1901 and 1910, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, he was the longest heir in waiting until recently. However, he only ruled for nine years, but despite this, he did make important naval reforms that helped during World War 1.
The last monarch on the list is outside our time frame, but the list won’t be complete without him: Edward VIII, whose reign lasted a mere 325 days in 1936. While quite popular during his early life, he lost the respect of many of his subjects when he gave up the throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His Nazi sympathies may also have something to do with why he is not very well thought of today.
