Edmund was probably born about the year 841 in East Anglia, England. It is believed that on Christmas day in the year 855, the nobility and clerics of Norfolk acknowledged Edmund as their king. This assembly took place at Attleborough when Edmund was fourteen years old.

In 856, Suffolk also acknowledged him as their king. He reigned for about fifteen years and was considered a very talented, wise and prudent ruler. He was strong in his faith and it is believed that he memorized the entire Psalter so that he could join in the Church's worship.

Edmund was not immune to the frequent attacks of the Danes. In 866 the largest Danish invasion of England began. In 870 The Danes invaded East Anglia and Edmund was killed.

According to one tradition, Edmund initially defeated the Danes at Thetford, but their reinforcements greatly outnumbered Edward's small army. He retreated to his castle at Framlingham in Suffolk where the invading leader, Ingvar, sent him a proposal for surrender. Edward refused the proposal because it was against the religious belief of his people and against what he felt he owed to all who had put their trust in him. In his attempt to retreat further with his army, he was captured and when he again refused Ingvar's proposal he was tortured and killed.

Another tradition relates that King Edmund, realizing that the Danish force was too great to defeat, surrendered himself to the Danes to avoid bloodshed among his people. He was beheaded and his body was buried at Hoxne. In the year 903 it was translated to Beodricsworth (Bury St. Edmund) and in 1010, during another Danish invasion it was moved to St. Gregory's in London. There are various traditions about subsequent translations of these relics.

St. Edmund was one of the most well known and venerated native saints of England. His was a life of courage, integrity and prudence. He chose to forfeit his life rather than to sell his people into paganism and subjugation, which is why we continue to honor him today.

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