Editing Eadred (section)

== Assessment ==
Domestic politics and recovering control over the whole of England were central to Eadred's rule and, unlike Æthelstan and Edmund, he is not known to have played any part in [[West Frankish]] politics, although in 949 ambassadors from Eadred attended the court of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]], King of [[East Francia]] at [[Aachen]]. Securing a general recognition of his authority was Eadred's primary duty, and his main preoccupation was dealing with northern rebellions.{{sfnm|1a1=Stenton|1y=1971|1p=360|2a1=Wood|2y=2010|2p=160}} Northumbria fought for its independence against successive West Saxon kings, but the acceptance of Erik proved to be its last throw and it was finally conquered during Eadred's reign.{{sfn|Higham|1993|p=193}} Historians disagree on how great his role was. In the view of the historian Ben Snook, Eadred "relied on a kitchen cabinet to run the country on his behalf and seems never to have exercised much direct authority."{{sfn|Snook|2015|p=125}} 

Hart suggests that in Edmund's reign, Eadgifu and Æthelstan Half-King decided much of national policy, and the position did not change much under Eadred.{{sfn|Hart|1992|p=580}} By contrast, in Williams's view, Eadred was "clearly an able and even energetic king, hampered by debility and (at the last) by a serious illness which brought about his early death".{{sfn|Williams|2004b}} 

Eadred's attitude towards his nephews is uncertain. Some charters are attested by both Eadwig and Edgar as ''cliton'' (medieval Latin for prince), but others by Eadwig as ''cliton'' or ''ætheling'' ([[Old English]] for prince) and Edgar as his brother.{{sfn|Biggs|2008|p=137}} When he acceded, Eadwig dispossessed Eadgifu and exiled Dunstan, apparently as part of an attempt to free himself from the powerful advisers of his father and uncle. The attempt failed, as within two years he was forced to share the kingdom with Edgar, who became King of the Mercians, while Eadwig retained Wessex. Eadwig died in 959 after a rule of only four years.{{sfn|Miller|2001|pp=79–80}}