An expression was derived, for the core traction contribution to the dislocation elastic energy within linear anisotropic elasticity theory, using the sextic formalism. It was found that the elastic energy was a state variable which was consistent with the work of the Peach-Koehler forces. This contribution also had to be considered when extracting core energies from atomistic simulations. The core energies thus obtained were real intrinsic dislocation properties and did not depend upon the presence or position of other defects. This was illustrated by calculating the core energies of edge dislocations in body-centered cubic iron, where it was shown that dislocations gliding on {110} planes were more stable than were those gliding on {112} planes. Elastic Energy of a Straight Dislocation and Contribution from Core Tractions. E.Clouet: Philosophical Magazine, 2009, 89[19], 1565-84