Ealhswith

Ealhswith (also Ealhswið, Ealhswiþ, Ealhswyth, Ealhswyð; * 850/855 in Mercia, † December 5 902 Winchester ) was Royal Consort of Wessex.

Life

Ealhswith was the daughter of Æthelred Mucel, the ealdorman of Gaini, an ancient tribe of Mercia. Her mother was his wife Eadburg that originated in the royal house of Mercia. Her brother Æthelwulf is occupied by a charter from the year 897.

In 868, she married Alfred, who probably already at this time as his brother, the West-Saxon king Æthelred designated heir to the throne ( 865-871 ) was considered. In 871 Alfred King of the West Saxons was. In contrast to her husband, the probably best documented Anglo-Saxon king, Ealhswith is barely palpable in the sources. Asser, Alfred's biographer, calls them by name and never called them " according to West -Saxon custom," never as "Queen ". Also in the obtained charters Alfreds it is not to be found among the witnesses.

Ealhswith is venerated as a saint. Her feast day is 20 July.

Children

Reception

Built in the 18th century Elswitha Hall in Gainsborough was named after her.

In the historical novels The Last Kingdom (English The Last Kingdom, 2004) and The White Rider ( The Pale Horseman, 2005), the British writer Bernard Cornwell Ealhswith was the model for the fictional character Ælswith.

Swell

• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Online at Project Gutenberg (English)
• Asher Vita Alfredi; The Life of King Alfred Online ( English) at Online Medieval and Classical Library
• Symeon of Durham: De Regum Anglorum Gestis (Acts of the English kings )
• Charter S340
• Charter S1201
• Charter S1442
• Charter S1507
• Charter S1560