Généalogie and Heritage

Source: FAMILY of ÆTHELRED EALDORMAN of MERCIA - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

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Type	Valeur
Titre	FAMILY of ÆTHELRED EALDORMAN of MERCIA - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

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ÆTHELFLAED, Lady of the Mercians (Of Mercia)

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B. FAMILY of ÆTHELRED EALDORMAN of MERCIA 1. ÆTHELRED (-912). Ealdorman of Mercia, ruling in the part of Mercia not ruled by the Danes, from [883] when he appears for the first time in a charter. Alfred King of Wessex was his overlord. He presided over the Mercian council and led the Mercian armies. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 885 "king Alfred occupied London…and he then entrusted the city to ealdorman Æthelred to rule"[159]. "Æthelred dux" subscribed a charter of King Alfred dated 892[160]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 893 "ealdorman Æthelred and ealdorman Æthelhelm and ealdorman Æthelnoth" besieged and later defeated the Danes "at Buttington on Severn shore"[161] [Buttington, near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire], consolidating English gains to the east and extending the authority of Wessex. "Æthelredus principes Merciorum", "Æthelred" and "Æthelredus dux et dominator Merciorum" subscribed charters of King Edward dated [900/04] and [903/04][162]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 912 of "Æthelred ealdorman of Mercia"[163]. m ([end 889]) ÆTHELFLÆD, daughter of ALFRED King of Wessex & his wife Ealhswith ([869]-Tamworth 12 Jun 918, bur Gloucester Cathedral). Asser names (in order) "Ethelfled the eldest…Edward…Ethelgiva…Ethelwitha and Ethelwerd" as the children of King Alfred & his wife, specifying that Ethelfled was married to "Ethered earl of Mercia"[164]. "Egelfledam Merciorum dominam" is named by Roger of Hoveden first in his list of King Alfred's daughters by Queen Ealhswith[165]. "Æthelflæd conjux" subscribed a charter of "Æthelred dux et patricius gentis Merciorum" granting land in Oxfordshire to the bishopric of Worcester dated 887[166]. "Æthelflæd" also subscribed the joint charter of King Alfred and "Æthelred subregulus et patricius Merciorum" dated 889[167], the charter of "Æthered" dated 901, and three charters of King Edward dated 903 and 904, in the last of which her name is listed immediately after her husband's and before "Æthelswitha regina"[168]. Known as the "Lady of the Mercians", she effectively governed Mercia after her husband's death "save only London and Oxford"[169]. Florence of Worcester records that she carried out a plan of fortress building to protect Mercia from the Danes, at Bridgenorth in 912, Tamworth and Stafford in 913, Eddisbury Hill in Cheshire and Warwick in 914, and Chirbury and Runcorn in 915[170]. Her Mercian troops played a decisive part in her brother's offensive against the Danes in the Midlands in 917, conquering Derby and Tempsford where they killed the Danish king of the East Angles, and Leicester in early 918[171]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 918 of Æthelflæd "12 days before midsummer at Tamworth in the eighth year of her rule over Mercia as its rightful lord" and her burial at Gloucester St Peter's church[172]. Æthelred & his wife had [two] children: a) [ÆTHELSTAN ([890/92]-[903/04]). "Æthelstan dux filius Etheredi" subscribed the joint charter of King Edward and "Æthelred" dated [903/04], named immediately after "Æthelflæd" and before "Æthelred dux et dominator Merciorum" (assumed to be identified with the co-grantor) in the list of subscribers[173]. It is unlikely that this is a transcription error for "Æthelstan son of King Edward" as it seems improbable that even the most incompetent scribe would make a mistake in the name of the king. The positioning of his name in the list of subscribers indicates a close relationship with Æthelflæd and her husband Æthelred. His position before his supposed father may indicate seniority due to his blood relationship with the monarch. There seems no reason not to propose that Æthelstan may have been this couple's son, unrecorded in other sources, who died soon after the date of the charter. One potential difficulty is the passage in William of Malmesbury which indicates that Æthelflæd “refused the embraces of her husband” after the difficulty experienced in her first labour[174]. It is not known how factual this passage can be, given its composition more than two centuries after the event by which time a comment of this nature may have acquired legendary status. Another possibility is that the two children were twins (which may account for the reported difficulty of the birth), although if that was the case the failure to mention the fact in contemporary sources would be surprising.] b) ÆLFWYNN (-after 919). She is named as her parents' only daughter by Roger of Hoveden[175]. After her mother's death, she was left in nominal authority in Mercia by her uncle King Edward "the Elder", until he had her removed from Mercia to Wessex in early Dec 919[176]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Ælfwynn, daughter of Æthelred lord of the Mercians, was deprived of all authority in Mercia and taken to Wessex three weeks before Christmas[177].

B. FAMILY of ÆTHELRED EALDORMAN of MERCIA

1. ÆTHELRED (-912). Ealdorman of Mercia, ruling in the part of Mercia not ruled by the Danes, from [883] when he appears for the first time in a charter. Alfred King of Wessex was his overlord. He presided over the Mercian council and led the Mercian armies. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 885 "king Alfred occupied London…and he then entrusted the city to ealdorman Æthelred to rule"[159]. "Æthelred dux" subscribed a charter of King Alfred dated 892[160]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 893 "ealdorman Æthelred and ealdorman Æthelhelm and ealdorman Æthelnoth" besieged and later defeated the Danes "at Buttington on Severn shore"[161] [Buttington, near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire], consolidating English gains to the east and extending the authority of Wessex. "Æthelredus principes Merciorum", "Æthelred" and "Æthelredus dux et dominator Merciorum" subscribed charters of King Edward dated [900/04] and [903/04][162]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 912 of "Æthelred ealdorman of Mercia"[163]. m ([end 889]) ÆTHELFLÆD, daughter of ALFRED King of Wessex & his wife Ealhswith ([869]-Tamworth 12 Jun 918, bur Gloucester Cathedral). Asser names (in order) "Ethelfled the eldest…Edward…Ethelgiva…Ethelwitha and Ethelwerd" as the children of King Alfred & his wife, specifying that Ethelfled was married to "Ethered earl of Mercia"[164]. "Egelfledam Merciorum dominam" is named by Roger of Hoveden first in his list of King Alfred's daughters by Queen Ealhswith[165]. "Æthelflæd conjux" subscribed a charter of "Æthelred dux et patricius gentis Merciorum" granting land in Oxfordshire to the bishopric of Worcester dated 887[166]. "Æthelflæd" also subscribed the joint charter of King Alfred and "Æthelred subregulus et patricius Merciorum" dated 889[167], the charter of "Æthered" dated 901, and three charters of King Edward dated 903 and 904, in the last of which her name is listed immediately after her husband's and before "Æthelswitha regina"[168]. Known as the "Lady of the Mercians", she effectively governed Mercia after her husband's death "save only London and Oxford"[169]. Florence of Worcester records that she carried out a plan of fortress building to protect Mercia from the Danes, at Bridgenorth in 912, Tamworth and Stafford in 913, Eddisbury Hill in Cheshire and Warwick in 914, and Chirbury and Runcorn in 915[170]. Her Mercian troops played a decisive part in her brother's offensive against the Danes in the Midlands in 917, conquering Derby and Tempsford where they killed the Danish king of the East Angles, and Leicester in early 918[171]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 918 of Æthelflæd "12 days before midsummer at Tamworth in the eighth year of her rule over Mercia as its rightful lord" and her burial at Gloucester St Peter's church[172]. Æthelred & his wife had [two] children:

a) [ÆTHELSTAN ([890/92]-[903/04]). "Æthelstan dux filius Etheredi" subscribed the joint charter of King Edward and "Æthelred" dated [903/04], named immediately after "Æthelflæd" and before "Æthelred dux et dominator Merciorum" (assumed to be identified with the co-grantor) in the list of subscribers[173]. It is unlikely that this is a transcription error for "Æthelstan son of King Edward" as it seems improbable that even the most incompetent scribe would make a mistake in the name of the king. The positioning of his name in the list of subscribers indicates a close relationship with Æthelflæd and her husband Æthelred. His position before his supposed father may indicate seniority due to his blood relationship with the monarch. There seems no reason not to propose that Æthelstan may have been this couple's son, unrecorded in other sources, who died soon after the date of the charter. One potential difficulty is the passage in William of Malmesbury which indicates that Æthelflæd “refused the embraces of her husband” after the difficulty experienced in her first labour[174]. It is not known how factual this passage can be, given its composition more than two centuries after the event by which time a comment of this nature may have acquired legendary status. Another possibility is that the two children were twins (which may account for the reported difficulty of the birth), although if that was the case the failure to mention the fact in contemporary sources would be surprising.]

b) ÆLFWYNN (-after 919). She is named as her parents' only daughter by Roger of Hoveden[175]. After her mother's death, she was left in nominal authority in Mercia by her uncle King Edward "the Elder", until he had her removed from Mercia to Wessex in early Dec 919[176]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Ælfwynn, daughter of Æthelred lord of the Mercians, was deprived of all authority in Mercia and taken to Wessex three weeks before Christmas[177].