Alfred The Great Wife

He is the best known anglo saxon king in british history thanks to his biographer asser died c.

Alfred the great wife. Queen consort of alfred the great alswitha ealswitha was the daughter of aethelred of mercia king of the gaini. But she was the mother of illustrious children and she is remembered as the true and beloved lady of the. Ealhswith wife of alfred the great. Osburh or osburga also osburga oslacsdotter was the first wife of king æthelwulf of wessex and mother of alfred the great alfred s biographer asser described her as a most religious woman noble in character and noble by birth.

History of the anglo saxons 1831 by sir francis palgrave for more details on her husband alfred the great. 871 899 ce was the king of wessex in britain but came to be known as king of the anglo saxons after his military victories over viking adversaries and later successful negotiations with them. She was never called queen and she never witnessed any charters during alfred s administration. Ealhswith had deep roots in mercia which was an important kingdom in anglo saxon england.

Ealhswith or ealswitha died 5 december 902 was the wife of king alfred the great her father was a mercian nobleman æthelred mucel ealdorman of the gaini which is thought to be an old mercian tribal group her mother was eadburh a member of the mercian royal family and according to the historian richard abels she was a descendant of king cenwulf of mercia. He was the youngest son of king æthelwulf of wessex his father died when he was young and three of alfred s brothers æthelbald æthelberht and æthelred reigned in turn before him. Ealhswith was the daughter of the mercian ealdorman aethelred mucel and she was married to prince alfred of. She married alfred in 868.

After ascending the throne alfred spent several years fighting viking invasions. Edward the elder c. We know very little about ealhswith s life. Osburh s existence is known only from asser s life of king alfred she is not named as witness to any charters nor is her death reported in the anglo saxon.

Ealhswith was a mercian princess who married alfred anglo saxon king of wessex. 874 17 july 924 was king of the anglo saxons from 899 until his death. Ealhswith died 5 december 902 was the queen of wessex as the wife of alfred the great she was known to be a pious christian and a good wife to alfred with whom she had many children including aethelflaed edward the elder and aelfthryth of flanders. But she was the mother of illustrious children and she is remembered as the true and beloved lady of the english.

Ealhswith was the wife of king alfred the great and the mother of aethelflaed the lady of the mercians and edward the elder. He was the elder son of alfred the great and his wife ealhswith when edward succeeded to the throne he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin æthelwold who had a strong claim to the throne as the son of alfred s elder brother and predecessor æthelred. Alfred the great 848 9 26 october 899 was king of wessex from 871 to c. 886 and king of the anglo saxons from c.

Her offspring would continue what her husband and the house of wessex began. 909 ce and that work s impact on later writers.