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After King Edmund was murdered and [[Edred of England|Edred]] became king, Dunstan became his advisor, and began a reformation of all the monasteries in Edred’s kingdom. In time Dunstan became involved in the West Saxon politics and developed enemies when he censured Edred’s nephew Edwy for his scandalous lifestyle. In 955, Edwy succeeded Edred on the throne, and Edwy quickly took his revenge on Dunstan by confiscating his property and sending him into exile.
Dunstan fled to Flanders, to the Abbey of Mont Blandin, near Ghent. At the abbey, Dunstan experienced for the first time the disciplined life of the Benedictine order that he had introduced at Glastonbury. But, he did not stay long as toward the end of 957 Edwy’s excesses resulted in a revolt that drove him from the throne of the lands north of the Thames. His brother Edgar was then installed as king, and Dunstan was asked to return. On his return Abp. [[Oda of Canterbury ]] consecrated him a bishop and appointed him to the [[see]] of Worcester. In 958 when the See of London became vacant this see was also conferred on Bp. Dunstan. Then in 960, King Edgar named Dunstan [[archbishop]] to the vacant see of Canterbury. After his return from receiving the [[pallium]] of office from Pope John XII in Rome, Abp. Dunstan became a close advisor of King Edgar and gained a position as virtual ruler of the kingdom. From this position Abp. Dunstan pushed reforms in the life of the realm, both within the Church and in the State. The crowning point of Abp. Dunstan’s work and statesmanship was the coronation in Bath of King Edgar in 673 by the two archbishops of Canterbury and York. The coronation service by Dunstan became the basis for British coronation service use through to today.
Two years later Edgar died, being succeeded by his oldest son, [[Edward the Martyr|Edward]] whom Dunstan crowned in Winchester. Then in March 978, King Edward was martyred and was succeeded by his step-brother Ethelred the Unready. The coronation of Ethelred was the last action of state performed by Abp. Dunstan. After Ethelred took the usual oath, Abp. Dunstan addressed the new king, rebuking him for the act that brought him to the throne and prophesying the coming misfortunes that were to fall on the realm. With this his influence at the court came to an end. He retired to Canterbury, to spend the remainder of his life there, active in his duties within the church.
years=959 - 988|
after=Æthelgar}}
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==External links==
