Ælfwynn of Mercia

Other Events and Attributes:

• Charter/Grant/Gift: About 904; The first contemporary written evidence of Ælfwynn is dated to around 904, a charter recording the lease of land by Æthelred and Æthelflæd for the traditional three lives—those of Æthelred, Æthelflæd and Ælfwynn—in and around Worcester from Bishop Waerferth and the monks and clerics of Worcester Cathedral.
• Offices Held: From 12 June 918 to Dec 1918; When her mother died on 12 June 918, she became the ruler of Mercia, but only until December. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Here also the daughter of Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians, was deprived of all control in Mercia, and was led into Wessex three weeks before Christmas. by Edward the Elder. Her accession was the only example of rule passing from one woman to another in the early medieval period in the British Isles.
• Miscellaneous: 919; There is no certain record of Ælfwynn after her removal from power. In Maggie Bailey's view, she probably entered holy orders. It is possible that she is the religious woman named Ælfwynn who is the beneficiary of charter S 535 dated 948 in the reign of King Eadred. Shashi Jayakumar suggests that she may have been the Ælfwynn who was wife of Æthelstan Half-King and foster-mother of the future King Edgar
• Last Full Review: 22 Nov 2021

Notes:

Name:

Birth:
Her birth was a difficult one, and that this led her mother to abstain from further sexual relations.

Family/Spouse: Edulph. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Leofwine, Earl of Mercia was born about 950 in Kingdom of Mercia; died in 1028.

Æthelred married Æthelflæd between 882 and 887. Æthelflæd (daughter of Alfred "the Great", King of England and Ealhswith of Mercia) was born in 869 in England; died on 12 Jun 918 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Crowned: 871, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire, England; In 871, he was crowned King of England in Winchester Cathedral.
• Reign: From 871 to 899; King of England
• Military: From 878 to 886; The Danes invaded England and threatened Wessex in 878. After a campaign of guerrilla warfare, Alfred defeated the Danes at Edington in 878. Once his victory had been established, he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglica provided that their King, Guthrum, converted to Christianity. To keep the coasts safe, he built a navy and used it, and a chain of fortifications, to thwart the Danes in 885 to 886 and 892 to 896. In 886, he captured London, thus gaining control over all of England save for the Dane Law.

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Alfred married Ealhswith of Mercia in 868 in England. Ealhswith (daughter of Æthelred Mucil, Earldorman of Gainsborough and Eadburh of Mercia) was born about 852 in Kingdom of Mercia; died in 904 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: Her name was also spelt Alswitha.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death
• Reign: From 839 to 856; King of England

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History:
In 839, he visited Rome.

In 839, he was crowned King of England and reigned until 858.

On 1 October 856, he abdicated in favor of his son Æthelbald after returning from a lengthy pilgrimage.

Æthelwulf married Osburh about 830. Osburh (daughter of Oslac, the Royal Cup-Bearer) was born about 810 in Kingdom of Wessex, England; died after 876. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Last Full Review: 8 Aug 2020

Æthelred married Eadburh of Mercia on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Last Full Review: 8 Aug 2020