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945 - 1000 (55 years)
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Name |
Ælfthryth - [1, 2] |
Suffix |
Queen of the Kingdom of England |
Born |
945 [1] |
Gender |
Female |
Biography |
- Ælfthryth was the first second or third wife of Edgar. Edgar had a son, a daughter and a son again through three different woman, but it was only Ælfthryth that we know he was married to. Her son Æthelred was called legitimate son of the king while the king while Edward, the older brother, was called the son of the king.
Ælfthryth was an ambitious queen. There is an interesting story of how she became queen. She was known throughout the land the first wife of a king to be crowned queen. She was known throughout the kingdom for her beauty (and probably political connections). Edgar sent his aid Æthewald to see if Ælfthryth was as beautiful as they said. If so, Edgar would marry her. Æthewald found she was so beautiful that he decided to marry her himself. When Edgar heard about this he demanded to see her. Æthewald told Ælfthryth to make herself look ugly for the King but instead she looked her best. Edgar ended up killing Æthelwald while a hunt and married Ælfthryth for himself.
Ælfthryth was the first wife of an English King to actually be crowned Queen. When Edgar died, Edward was just entering adult age and her son Æthelred was still very young. It was not clear who Edgar wanted to follow him so Ælfthryth petitioned for Æthelred. Edward was chosen instead. A couple years later when Edward was visiting Ælfthryth some of her servants killed him allowing Æthelred to become queen.
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Died |
1000 [1] |
Person ID |
I2716 |
Our Family |
Last Modified |
18 Dec 2016 |
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