Sons and Mothers: Family Politics in the Early Middle Ages
Pauline Stafford
In this year (975) Edgar, king of the English, reached end earthly joys, chose for him other light, beautiful and happy left wretched fleeting life’ (ASC MS A). Edgar died in his thirty-second year. He had ruled whole England sixteen years, since age sixteen, northern parts it at least fourteen. three known surviving children, each by a different mother. Eadgyth, daughter, was abbess nunnery Wilton, appropriately enough she daughter nun Wulfthryth. two sons. The eldest Edward martyr son first marriage to lady named Aethelflaed. Edward’s mother dead or otherwise disposed 975. She disappeared early reign, before took as wife queen Aelfthryth 964. sons: Edmund, who pre-deceased father 972, Aethelred, better history Aethelred Unraed. reputation which has attached mild would hardly apply mother, involved herself with great purpose advancement her most nine years old 975, making all possible allowance speedy consummation mother’s birth elder brother. We do not know Edward, but he is called ‘child ungrown’ C Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , should make no more than twelve, social maturity tenth century England. These accurately their supporters, immediately flung themselves into battle throne.
Studies in church history. Subsidia