Edmund the Martyr

Edmund the Martyr was a king of East Anglia from about 855 until his death in 869. He is considered a saint and a martyr by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He was killed by the invading Vikings, who demanded that he renounce his faith and submit to their rule. He refused and was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and beheaded. His head was thrown into a forest, but was miraculously found by his followers, guarded by a wolf. His body and head were buried at a nearby chapel, which later became the site of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. His cult grew rapidly after his death, and he was venerated as the patron saint of England until he was replaced by St George in the 14th century. His relics were moved several times during the Middle Ages, and were eventually lost or destroyed during the Reformation. His feast day is November 20.¹²³⁴