Ælfred Æþeling (c. 1012–1036), was one of the eight sons of the English king Æthelred the Unready. He and his brother Edward the Confessor were sons of Æthelred's second wife Emma of Normandy.[1] King Canute became their stepfather when he married Emma. Alfred and his brother were caught up in the power struggles at the start and end of Canute's reign.
Alfred Aetheling
Miniature of Alfred Aetheling in a 13th-century royal genealogy
In 1013, during the siege of London by the Danes, Æthelred and his family took refuge in Normandy. Æthelred regained the throne in 1014 and died in 1016. England was conquered by Canute of Denmark later that year, and Alfred and Edward returned to the court of their uncle, Duke Richard II of Normandy. There is some evidence of a plan on the part of Duke Richard to invade England on his nephews' behalf.[2]
Return to England
In 1035, Canute died, and during the uncertainty that followed, the heirs of the former Anglo-Saxon rulers attempted to restore the House of Wessex to the throne of England. Alfred Ætheling landed on the coast of Sussex with a Norman mercenary body guard and attempted to make his way to London. However he was betrayed, captured by Earl Godwin of Wessex, and blinded; he died soon afterwards.[3]
When Harthacnut succeeded his half-brother Harold, he prosecuted Earl Godwin and Lyfing, Bishop of Worcester and Crediton, for the crime against his half-brother; the Bishop lost his see for a while and Godwin gave the king a warship carrying eighty fighting men as appeasement and swore that he had not wanted the prince blinded and that whatever he had done was in obedience to King Harold.[4] Tradition holds that like Harthacnut, Edward the Confessor considered Godwin guilty.[5]
The House of Wessex was restored through the accession of Alfred's brother Edward in 1042. Alfred's death was one of the main reasons for the mistrust and resentment shown by many members of Anglo-Saxon society, and particularly from Edward himself, towards Earl Godwin and his sons.
References
^David Crouch, The Normans: The History of a Dynasty, (Hambledon Continuum, 2002), 51.
^Britain (Narrative 1000-1300), Steven Isaac, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, Vol.1, Ed. Clifford Rogers, (Oxford University Press, 2010), 209.
Lawson, M. K., "Alfred Ætheling (d. 1036/7)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
August 22, 2023
alfred, aetheling, Ælfred, Æþeling, 1012, 1036, eight, sons, english, king, Æthelred, unready, brother, edward, confessor, were, sons, Æthelred, second, wife, emma, normandy, king, canute, became, their, stepfather, when, married, emma, alfred, brother, were, . AElfred AEtheling c 1012 1036 was one of the eight sons of the English king AEthelred the Unready He and his brother Edward the Confessor were sons of AEthelred s second wife Emma of Normandy 1 King Canute became their stepfather when he married Emma Alfred and his brother were caught up in the power struggles at the start and end of Canute s reign Alfred AethelingMiniature of Alfred Aetheling in a 13th century royal genealogyBornc 1012Died1036 aged 23 24 HouseHouse of WessexFatherAEthelred the UnreadyMotherEmma of Normandy Contents 1 Siege of London 2 Return to England 3 References 4 External linksSiege of London EditIn 1013 during the siege of London by the Danes AEthelred and his family took refuge in Normandy AEthelred regained the throne in 1014 and died in 1016 England was conquered by Canute of Denmark later that year and Alfred and Edward returned to the court of their uncle Duke Richard II of Normandy There is some evidence of a plan on the part of Duke Richard to invade England on his nephews behalf 2 Return to England EditIn 1035 Canute died and during the uncertainty that followed the heirs of the former Anglo Saxon rulers attempted to restore the House of Wessex to the throne of England Alfred AEtheling landed on the coast of Sussex with a Norman mercenary body guard and attempted to make his way to London However he was betrayed captured by Earl Godwin of Wessex and blinded he died soon afterwards 3 When Harthacnut succeeded his half brother Harold he prosecuted Earl Godwin and Lyfing Bishop of Worcester and Crediton for the crime against his half brother the Bishop lost his see for a while and Godwin gave the king a warship carrying eighty fighting men as appeasement and swore that he had not wanted the prince blinded and that whatever he had done was in obedience to King Harold 4 Tradition holds that like Harthacnut Edward the Confessor considered Godwin guilty 5 The House of Wessex was restored through the accession of Alfred s brother Edward in 1042 Alfred s death was one of the main reasons for the mistrust and resentment shown by many members of Anglo Saxon society and particularly from Edward himself towards Earl Godwin and his sons References Edit David Crouch The Normans The History of a Dynasty Hambledon Continuum 2002 51 Stenton F M Anglo Saxon England Oxford Clarendon 1943 3rd ed 1971 p 409 Britain Narrative 1000 1300 Steven Isaac The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology Vol 1 Ed Clifford Rogers Oxford University Press 2010 209 Stenton pp 422 23 Stenton p 421 External links EditAlfred 54 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Lawson M K Alfred AEtheling d 1036 7 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Aetheling amp oldid 1157786616, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
