On St. George’s Day, England celebrates its dragon-slaying patron saint. But did you know that St. George wasn’t always the patron saint of England?
In fact, it’s debated whether St. George even stepped foot in England at all.
St. George’s association with English valour was solidified in 1199 during the Third Crusade when Richard I visited St. George’s tomb in Lydda on the eve of a victorious battle. Inspired by this experience, Richard took St. George as his personal patron. It was not for another 150 years, in 1348, that Edward III officially declared St. George the patron saint of England.
Before St. George, it was St. Edmund, an Anglo-Saxon, who held the title of England’s patron saint. Some argue that St. Edmund’s legacy is more deserving of this honour.
How much do you know about this often-overlooked saint? Here are some facts to explore! And don’t forget, you can learn all about the Anglo-Saxons in our upcoming KS2 Anglo-Saxon series. Start your membership today so you don’t miss out!
1. St. Edmund was an Anglo-Saxon King
Unlike St. George, St. Edmund was an Englishman. St. Edmund, also known as Edmund the Martyr, was king of East Anglia in the 9th century. England was not yet a unified country but instead was divided into smaller kingdoms known as the Heptarchy. East of Mercia and north of London, East Anglia included the modern counties of Norfolk and Suffolk; this was the realm of St. Edmund.
2. St. Edmund fought the Vikings
St. Edmund was king of East Anglia during a time when Viking attacks were common across the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 9th century. In 869, a large Viking army invaded his kingdom, aiming to take over the land rather than just raid it. Despite fighting bravely, Edmund was defeated by the Vikings. After his capture, the Vikings demanded that he give up his Christian faith and accept their rule. Edmund refused to do either and was executed as a result. His brave stand and refusal to abandon his beliefs made him a respected figure, and he was later honoured as a martyr.
3. He apparently survived his beheading
The story states that he was shot so full of arrows, he was ‘bristled like a hedgehog’. This image has been vividly depicted in various medieval artworks, serving as a poignant symbol of his martyrdom. It is also claimed that after he was beheaded, his head was taken by a wolf, and then when his followers went looking for it, they heard it calling to them. When they placed his head back onto his body, the two fused together and the guy was fine.
4. He was killed by a man with no bones
The man who was said to have killed St. Edmund was a Viking called Ivan the Boneless. Okay, he didn’t really have no bones, but was born with weak cartilage, making him a bit wobbly. He led the Great Heathen Army in their invasion of England and their capture of East Anglia from the Anglo-Saxons.
5. He did some haunting in the afterlife
St. Edmund’s ghost is said to have killed Viking king Sweyn Forkbeard. Sweyn successfully launched a full scale invasion of England and declared himself king in the year 1013. However, his reign was short-lived.
Legend has it that the ghost of St. Edmund, who had been martyred by Viking invaders more than a century earlier, was displeased by Sweyn’s occupation of England and his harsh rule which led to widespread suffering. It is said that St. Edmund appeared in a ghostly form to Sweyn, terrifying him with visions of divine retribution.
Not long after these eerie visitations, Sweyn died unexpectedly in 1014. His death is often depicted through St. Edmund(‘s ghost) piercing Sweyn with a spear. Other records state he died of a stroke – yeah, right.
As we celebrate St. George’s Day and honour the dragon-slaying legend who became England’s patron saint, it’s fascinating to delve deeper into the historical layers that shape this celebration. Although St. George’s connection to English valour is celebrated, his actual ties to England are more mythic than factual.
Remember to explore more about the Anglo-Saxons and their indelible mark on English history in our upcoming KS2 Anglo-Saxon series, which investigates the relationships between Alfred the Great and the Vikings and the role of East Anglia in shaping Anglo-Saxon culture. Through these stories, both legendary and real, we get a closer look at the people who helped shape England’s story long before our time. Start your membership today so you don’t miss out!
