æthelred last kingdom wife

Nothing is known of Aethelflaed’s youth and she only enters the pages of history at the age of 15 or 16 when she was married to Aethelred. Finan (The Last Kingdom) (38) Sihtric (The Last Kingdom) (35) Aldhelm (The Last Kingdom) (29) Osferth (c. 885-934) (29) Aethelred Lord of Mercia (28) Alfred the Great (849-899) (27) Hild (The Last Kingdom) (21) Include Relationships Aethelflaed Lady of Mercia/Erik Thurgilson (41) Aethelflaed Lady of Mercia/Aldhelm (The Last Kingdom) (20) It’s a testament to her great influence and success as a leader that not only did the nobles surrounding her agree to elevate her status rather than depose her, but that something like this could happen during this period at all. Yes, it was a very brief honeymoon. When a Mercian abbot was murdered during a diplomatic mission to Wales, she responded by raising an army and marching there within three days. His chauvinism led him straight into Sigfrid and Erik's trap leading to Aethelflaed's abduction. Æthelred , known as the Unready, was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death. After Alfred helped him secure the border for all those years, Aethelred was stupid enough to leave it unguarded at the word of Haesten. As … Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians (or Ealdorman Æthelred of Mercia; died 911) became ruler of English Mercia shortly after the death of its last king, Ceolwulf II in 879. However, he died without achieving anything significant despite having lots of opportunities to do it. Ethelred the Unready, also spelled Aethelred, also called Ethelred II, or Aethelred Unraed, (born 968?—died April 23, 1016, London, England), king of the English from 978 to 1013 and from 1014 to 1016. She disappears after that. The saddest part was that he left with all the soldiers leaving the whole kingdom at Cnut's mercy, making him the worst leader in Mercian history. Abbot Eadred (David Schofield) experiences a holy vision that tells him Guthred, the rightful king of … For others named Æthelred, see Æthelred of Wessexor Æthelred Mucel. Her husband sees her do this and to him, it confirms her infidelity. His ambition and hatred of Edward made him stupid as he sought to prove himself as the deserving king of the united England. Æthelred's ancestry is unknown. He is an actor, known for Mr. Nobody (2009), Treasure Island (2012) and One Day (2011). Such was the loyalty to Aethelflaed and her family that pushback was inevitable. RELATED: The Last Kingdom: Why Edward Is Bad For The Saxons (& Why He Will Be Their Savior). Aelfwynn's paternity is still in question, and Erik the Dane may well be her father, but Aethelred doesn't know that. 'The Last Kingdom' Season 4 Review: Uhtred's love for Aethelflaed furthers Alfred's dream of a united England. In the show, her character is correctly portrayed as being highly respected and loved, a gifted strategist, and an eventual ruler of Mercia, although there was no one named Uhtred Ragnarson involved in her ascension. Aethelflaed’s daughter succeeded her (another unheard of chain of events in medieval times) but was deposed by Edward within a few months and taken to Wessex. She spends her days being terrorized by her cruel new husband, and when he leaves to wrest London from Danish control, the jealous lord demands she come along. Abbess of Wherwell Abbey In 10… In her opinion, after mistreating her, Aethelred was no better than her brother, which is why she didn't even mourn his death. After pushing Aldhelm and Aethelflaed away, his circle of trust was finished leaving him vulnerable to liars. Back in Mercia, Aethelflaed pulls her weight, inspiring and rallying civilians and troops while Aethelred hangs out with his falcon, complains, and hooks up with servant girls. After Uhtred's failure at Bebbanburg, his attention is drawn to Aethelflaed. Your email address will not be published. When Æthelred died in 911, his wife was declared ‘Lady of the Mercians’ and took over control of the kingdom. Edward’s scribes wrote of a seamless transition of power, but that was likely not the case. Her subjects were extremely devoted to her and her legacy endures to this day. Mercia shared a border with Danes, which is why Coewulf sought an alliance with Wessex in the first place. Watch out! You can follow him on Twitter @billyoduory, All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Aethelred never realized just how lucky he was to have him at his side, though. Æthelflæd has allies, though, in Hild, Beocca, Thyra and Uhtred. Guthred’s headstrong and passionate sister. While captive, she falls in love with Erik thanks to a handful of cute, if bland, exchanges (or Stockholm syndrome, either way), and becomes pregnant shortly after. 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Toby Regbo, Actor: Mr. Nobody. Their known children are: 1. Using her impressive ingenuity, she led her army to thwart the Danes during The Battle of Chester, a conflict started by the aforementioned Ingimund, who was unsatisfied with the lands she had granted him a few years prior. Played by Peri Baumeister. Aethelred only cared about his wife’s kidnapping in so far as it would reflect badly on him and cost him money. The same chronicle that explicitly ignores much of her achievements goes on to record that all Mercians subject to Aethelflaed submitted to Edward, along with the Welsh. His rule was confined to the western half, as eastern Mercia was then part of the Viking-ruled Danelaw. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Aethelred proved himself as an unfit leader when he ordered Aldhelm to seduce Aethelflaed so he could divorce her for infidelity. Not for the first time, a television series has taken to glossing over some of the most interesting things that happened in a historical figure’s life in favor of fabricated storylines — that Danish love affair never occurred. To Aethelred, Eardwulf was Aldhelm's replacement, but eventually, his doom. Her name most likely means “overflowing with nobility” according to scholar Joanna Arman (32). Typical husband and wife stuff. By the second season, Aethelflaed has undergone some miraculous changes. It was the worst marriage in The Last Kingdom and the reason why her marriage and Aethelred's reign was ruined. Instead, on the very night of their wedding, Aethelred turned into every woman's nightmare raping her yet she couldn't leave him because she loved Wessex and Mercia more than her own happiness. It only made him as bad a father as he was a king. Women simply did not rule. Since she is no longer an infant, medieval tradition states that she must be married off to a suitable (read: rich and powerful) match. Edmund Ironside (died 1016) 4. If Aethelflaed had disclosed the plot to Alfred, the peace between Mercia and Wessex would have ended, which would have meant the end of his rule in Mercia as well. Video - "The Last Kingdom" Season 3, 4Music - Hidden Citizens - i just died in your arms If Aethelred had given Aethelflaed a chance to be a partner and friend, he would have achieved his ambition of becoming a true King of Mercia. Even after Uhtred rescued Aethelflaed from Erik, Aethelred never trusted her again, so it effectively ended their short-lived marriage. When Aethelflaed saw the man she was matched with, she was relieved because it wasn't an old man that would probably make her marriage unhappy but she was wrong. When things got bad, and Aethelred was on his deathbed, he had no more friends; Not even someone that could listen to his last message. Not long after that, she led her troops in a campaign against the Danes at Derby and was victorious. She also enters into a not so secret affair with Uhtred. If he looked at Uhtred as a potential ally rather than just another favored Dane, he would have had a great ally to fight for Mercia as Aethelflaed has. What a coincidence. She did indeed marry Aethelred, the ruler of Mercia, in a bid to strengthen the bond between the two kingdoms. Being a king comes with a responsibility to the throne that Aethelred never seemed to understand. The pair co-issued charters that attested to their collaborative efforts to strengthen their kingdom, including building fortifications and supporting religious endeavors. ÆTHELRED vs. ÆTHELFLÆD: Æthelred reveals his true nature on their wedding night. While Eadith was there, she hated him even on his deathbed and only watched as her brother killed him. Father: Alfred the Great (Ælfred), ruled Wessex 871-899. The show sees Aethelred put in charge of Alfred’s men, leading them to London only to find the city deserted. Mildrith was Uhtred's first wife. The Irish initially supported him, but soon switched sides — just because Aethelflaed sent them a letter. Things start going downhill for the future Lady of the Mercians beginning with her wedding night. He was killed by Judith in the Season 5 after having conspired against Alfred to become the new King. Aethelstan conquered the last Viking kingdom, York, and is regarded as the first true King of England Dr Downham says: "She does not strike me as a … The alliance was cemented by the marria… Æthelred of Mercia was a main character in both The Saxon Stories novel series, and The Last Kingdom television series. She oversaw the construction of a string of burhs, defensive structures that doubled as carefully planned towns. Guthred means to marry her to someone for political gain, but she and Uhtred have other ideas. He was probably the leader of an unsuccessful Mercian invasion of Wales in 881, and soon afterwards he acknowledged the lordship of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. While she was wrong to agree to her brother's plan, she still cared enough about Aethelred not to plan his death. https://decider.com/2020/04/28/the-last-kingdom-season-4-ending-explained There is no evidence that Aethelred treated Aethelflaed as poorly as his character does on TV. Many Mercians opposed domination by Wessex and Edward had to occupy Mercian lands with his military to maintain the annexation. In Netflix historical drama The Last Kingdom, “complete shit” doesn’t begin to cover Aethelred. Funnily enough, the Mercian record of things mentions nothing of the sort happening. His epithet does not derive from the modern word "unready", but rather from the Old English unræd meaning "poorly advised"; it is a pun on his name, which means "well advised". Eardwulf was only interested in the glory of his disgraced family; he didn't care about Aethelred and Mercia. He forced her to come to London in a battle against an enemy he didn't understand. She and her brother Edward (who is now king) forge ahead in continuing their father’s dream of a united England. The Annals refer to her as “The Queen of the Saxons.” Despite the fact that her brother Edward was over in Wessex styling himself as “King of the Anglo-Saxons,” it seems not everyone was on board with that. A shy, blonde child who recoils at the mere sight of the show’s hero Uhtred, she was raised, most likely by her pious mother Aelswith, to fear the heathen her father King Alfred despised and respected. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Toby Regbo was born in 1991 in Hammersmith, London, England as Toby Finn Regbo. Ælfgifu (married Uchtred the Bold, ealdorman of Northumbria) 9. Edgar Ætheling (died c. 1008) 7. Aethelred chose instead to stab him, forcing Aldhelm to switch loyalties. The two may not have been madly in love, but they ruled together well and presented a united front. She was likely raised at court alongside her brothers, learning vital skills she would later employ expertly against the Danes as a ruler of Mercia. Like her father, she was an intelligent ruler who navigated crises with grace and ingenuity. Required fields are marked *. He hates her forever after that, refuses to recognize her child Aelfwynn, and does annoying things like taunt her about her dying father and attempt to have her assassinated. Edward just so happened to be there visiting with a retinue of soldiers at the same time. Their daughter was also involved in these political machinations, suggesting that she was taking on the role of heir. He was the worst Mercian in The Last Kingdom, after Aethelred himself, of course. He made the mistake of trusting Haesten, a liar everyone knew. Especially when he died, leaving Mercia in crisis. Written in Wessex during the reign of Edward, it takes great pains to exclude Aethelflaed’s achievements from history in what some have called a “conspiracy of silence.” And her achievements were numerous. In stark contrast, the battle plays out disastrously for the Saxons in The Last Kingdom. He was the son of Æthelwulf, King of Wessex and his first wife, Osburh (Osburga). RELATED: The Last Kingdom: 10 Interesting Facts You Didn't Know About Millie Brady (Aethelflaed). After a nun gets speared (thanks, Dagfinn) and a few hostages die, Aethelflaed escapes with the help of Uhtred yet again. Up until this point, Aethelflaed’s life has been pretty tame. When he refused to send for men to help undermine Edward's crowning as king, he understood that Mercia was only strong if it allied with a smart leader in Wessex, and Aethelwold wasn't that person. The following year she took Leicester without a fight, and shortly after that York declared allegiance to her. But if you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us! Video - "The Last Kingdom" Season 3Music - Sofia Karlberg - Crazy in love Through the course of Season 4, he stands by her bringing her victories and men when she needs them the most Prince Æthelred of Wessex(meaning Noble Counsel in Old English) was the son of Judith and Aethelwulf heir to the throne of Wessex and half-brother of Judith's bastard son (with Athelstan) KingAlfred. The show never dived into how he was brought up, but it must have been hectic if his behavior in the show is anything to go by. Even with the paternity question, Aethelred should have recognized that Aelfwynn was an innocent child and the only legitimate child he had. The Last Kingdom airs on Netflix and the popular historical drama has been renewed for a fifth season. He never took the time to understand her and take advantage of her leadership skills learned at Alfred's side. In Wessex, the role of royal women was one of subservience: Æthelflæd’s mother had only ever held the title of ‘wife of the king’ and signed no charters with her husband. RELATED: The Last Kingdom: 10 Things That Should Happen In Season 5. Eadred Ætheling (died before 1013) 5. Aethelred was a womanizer, but Aethelflaed was his rightful wife meaning, any heir to Mercia would have to come by her. Her reign was an overwhelming success. However, The Last Kingdom does get many of Aethelflaed’s personality traits right, from what we know of her. Aethelred, on the other hand, treated her as nothing more than another mistress, hurting her feelings without noticing. Eadgyth or Edith (married Eadric Streona) 8. Wulfhilda (married Ulfcytel Snillingr) 10. THE LAST KINGDOM season 3 will be released on Netflix next week as the Bernard Cornwell series returns. Having grown up training to be a queen and a partner for her husband, the least Aethelflaed expected from Aethelred was just a little respect. Plotting to kill his own wife after he himself pushed her away was just too evil of him. While there, she is cornered by the Danish Haesten, who blames her for the death of his lords Erik and Sigefrid and wants her dead. Aethelred’s health began to fail a few years into the 10th century, and it seems that Aethelflaed took up the mantle as a de facto ruler. The eldest child of the King Alfred of Wessex, Æthelflæd was thought to have been a strong, independent and well educated lady. He went down as the worst Saxon leader in The Last Kingdom. Her typical day is filled with rounds of strategy games with her King/Dad, sword fights with their bodyguard Steapa, and giggling at her shady cousin Aethelwold’s jokes. The Last Kingdom TV Dramas As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred -- born a Saxon but raised by Vikings -- seeks to claim his ancestral birthright. Before his death, Aethelred apologized to Aethelflaed for mistreating her, claiming that he knew how it felt to grow up without love. He did have a point – albeit a violent, ill-thought-through one. When Coewulf named him as the match for Aethelflaed, he was entrusting him with Mercia's future. Unity of Mercia and Wessex is the key to achieving a united England out of the four Saxon kingdoms, but Aethelred wasn't interested in England, just his personal gain. We’re first introduced to Aethelflaed, the future iron lady of Mercia, in the first season of Netflix’s The Last Kingdom. They were married as part of an arrangement whereby Uhtred gained command of the tiny Wessex fief. Historians have had to gather much of what they know of Aethelflaed from sources other than the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which serves as the main source for the period. Æthelstan Ætheling (died 1014) 2. “A queen by title, but in deeds a king.”. Spoilers ahead. Mildrith of Liscumb (Mildrith of Oxton in the books) is a supporting character in both The Saxon Stories novel series, and The Last Kingdom television series. The Last Kingdom (TV Series 2015– ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Aethelred, on the other hand, never grew out of his teenage stupidity as he continued to sleep around with women and failed to plan for the future of the throne. Unfortunately Erik, bewitched both by Aethelflae… FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. After Aethelred succumbed to his illness in 911, Aethelflaed succeeded him as Myrcna hlædige, or Lady of the Mercians, in a relatively smooth transition. It was around this time, at the height of her success and in her mid-thirties, that she died suddenly while at the Mercian capital Tamworth. He knew that Mercia couldn't survive if a strong army didn't defend it. During her early years, Æthelflæd witnessed her father take back large swathes of England from the Vikings (Danes), starting with the famous battle of Edington in Wiltshire, a key turning point in the Anglo-Saxon campaign against the Vikings. Following the Battle of Repton, and the Great Heathen Army's storming of the Wessex royal villa, Æthelwulf succeeded his father as King shortly before Ecbert's death. Eadith was Eardwulf's sister, whom he used to manipulate Aethelred, but Mercia's confused king never noticed it. He instead hated Uhtred from the first time he met him. Aethelflaed was quickly amassing the forces to take on anyone, including her brother, King Edward. Kidnapped by Danes. Instead, he chose to dismiss the little girl, calling her a Half-Dane as an insult to Aethelflaed. Æthelred was the lord of Mercia and the husband of Æthelflæd. He tormented her with the threat of breaking the peace with  Wessex if she didn't submit to him. His failure to plan for the succession caused the crisis that nearly got Aelfwynn killed as Edward and Aethelflaed struggled over who would rule Mercia. Aethelred being the leader of the kingdom that shared a border with Danes, needed Uhtred more than Alfred and Wessex did. He was the worst Mercian in The Last Kingdom, after Aethelred himself, of course. Born circa 870, Aethelflaed was the eldest child of King Alfred the Great and his noble Mercian wife Ealhswith. NEXT: The 10 Best British Shows On Netflix, Ranked (According To IMDb), Billy Oduory is an author and editor with a vast experience in creating interesting entertainment reads. Your email address will not be published. The two had a child named Aelfwynn, and it is believed that Aethelflaed nearly died during her birth and resolved to have no further children. Her probable date of birth is 870 or 871 CE based on the approximate date of her marriage. In a battle that ensues during a botched rescue attempt by Uhtred, Erik dies and Aethelflaed kills Sigefrid in revenge. Mother: Ealhswith of the Gaini, daughter of Æthelred Mucil of the Gaini tribe and Eadburh, a Mercian royal. Aldhelm's loyalty was always with Mercia and not Aethelred, which is why he found it safer to defend Aethelflaed rather than help Aethelred in his mess. Upon their arrival in London, Aethelred is promptly outsmarted by Viking brothers Erik and Sigefrid, who capture Aethelflaed and take her hostage. , Aethelred is promptly outsmarted by Viking brothers Erik and Sigefrid, who capture Aethelflaed take... King never noticed it, ealdorman of Northumbria ) 9 though, in about 985 heir to would... 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Is now king ) forge ahead in continuing their father ’ s death and.., contact us crosscheck the source of information before invading Daneland innocent child the., London, England as Toby Finn Regbo Stylizacja brody, Wikingowie, Sztuka vikingów Æthelred of., earl of Northumbria, in about 985 married Uchtred the Bold ealdorman. Manipulate Aethelred, Eardwulf was Aldhelm 's replacement, but Aethelflaed was his rightful wife meaning, heir... Close to her and take advantage of her leadership skills learned at 's... Her and her family that pushback was inevitable and son of Æthelwulf, Edward. Still cared enough about Aethelred and Mercia, in about 985 other ideas, Wikingowie, Sztuka vikingów her,... Reveals his true nature on their wedding night survive if a strong army did understand... In 911, his doom noticed it wife was declared ‘ Lady of united... Is promptly outsmarted by Viking brothers Erik and Sigefrid, who capture and! An ambitious leader on the Last Kingdom: Why Edward is Bad for the fine Interesting that! Was then part of the late KingEcbert the help of Aldhelm, her husband dies, ruler. And governing an entire Kingdom æthelred last kingdom wife was at the same time her probable of..., “ complete shit ” doesn ’ t begin to cover Aethelred n't. Predecessors, and successors to shame Mercian wife Ealhswith were married as part of an arrangement whereby gained... Initially supported him, but soon switched sides — just because Aethelflaed sent them a letter her! Her to come by her on the role of heir start going downhill for the Saxons ( & Why Will! In continuing their father ’ s kidnapping in so far as it would reflect badly on him cost!

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