The royal threesome that rocked Anglo-Saxon England

Katherine Weikert explores what stories about the coronation sex romp of Anglo-Saxon king Eadwig can reveal about contemporary attitudes to authority

Published: February 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM

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In the year 955, Eadwig became king of England – and, according to 10th-century sources, he celebrated in quite a salacious fashion. These stories claim that at his coronation feast, Eadwig left the hall to have a sex romp with his wife... and her mother. Speaking to David Musgrove, historian Katherine Weikert explains why this sensational story caught on, despite the fact that it probably never actually happened – and what it reveals about English kingship in the early Middle Ages.

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Authors

Dr David Musgrove, FSAContent director

David Musgrove is the content director at HistoryExtra

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