Saint Edward the Martyr, the firstborn son of King Edgar, became King of England at the age of 13. While some supported Edward as the legitimate heir to the throne, others backed his younger half-brother. This opposing party was led by Edward’s stepmother, Queen Elfrida. St. Dunstan of Canterbury supported Edward in an effort to maintain stability and peace within the Catholic Church and England. Edward's reign lasted only three years before Queen Elfrida conspired to kill him. At the age of 16, he was stabbed by an assassin at his half-brother’s castle while sitting on his horse. Although Edward rode away quickly, he partially fell and was dragged by the horse into a hidden spot in a marshland, where he died. Following reports of miraculous healings at his grave, he quickly became a revered saint and martyr to the English people.
