In 869, Vikings who had subjected the Kingdom of the East Angles to bloody invasion sent King Edmund an ultimatum, demanding that he submit or die. Edmund however refused to submit unless their leader, Hingwar, was baptised a Christian. Enraged, Hingwar came in person to Edmund’s hall and, as Edmund refused to shed blood, easily took him captive.

The pagan Vikings subjected Edmund to cruel tortures and humiliations. When he received them calmly, always proclaiming his loyalty to Christ, they tied him to a tree and made a sport of throwing javelins at him. When Edmund still remained faithful, they gave up and beheaded him. All this was witnessed, and subsequently written down for posterity.

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