Eadric (Ædric) (fl. 942–949) was a tenth-century ealdorman of Wessex.[nb 1] He was the youngest of four sons of Æthelfrith, an ealdorman in Mercia, and his wife Æthelgyth. From 946 until his death in 949 Eadric was the second most senior ealdorman in England, surpassed only by his brother Æthelstan Half-King.
Eadric was born to Æthelfrith, an ealdorman who ruled territory in southern and eastern Mercia, and his wife Æthelgyth, who came from a family with considerable wealth that owned land in Buckinghamshire. Eadric was the youngest of four brothers, the other three being Ælfstan, Æthelstan Half-King, and Æthelwold, all four of whom were made ealdormen between 925 and 950.[1] Ælfstan, the eldest brother, succeeded to his father's ealdordom upon the death of his father around 915, though he died in 934. Æthelstan Half-King was made Ealdorman of East Anglia in 932, though his jurisdiction also included Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and parts of Lincolnshire. Æthelwold was granted an ealdordom in 940, ruling over Kent and neighbouring counties including Essex. Eadric was the last of the four brothers to be granted an ealdordom, ruling over central Wessex from 942 onwards.[2] He succeeded a man named Ælfhere as ealdorman.[3]
By about 945 Eadric and his two surviving brothers between them controlled over half the kingdom.[4] Beginning in 943 Æthelstan is listed first among the king's ealdormen when witnessing charters, indicating his premier position. Æthelwold is listed second and Eadric is listed between third and sixth depending on the particular charter.[1] Æthelwold died in 946, leaving land in Sussex and on the Berkshire Downs to Eadric. A later charter by King Eadred details land at these same two places to be given to Eadric, though it is not known whether this refers to new land or is simply of a confirmation of the land left to Eadric by his brother.[3] Following Æthelwold's death Eadric is listed second only to his brother Æthelstan when witnessing royal charters.[1] Eadric died in 949 and was succeeded as ealdorman by Æthelsige.[3]
It is possible that Eadric was the father of Æthelweard (historian), if true then he had at least four children, the others being Æthelweard's siblings Ælfweard, Ælfgifu and Ælfwaru. This identification rests on Ælfgifu's possession of the estate of Risborough, which had belonged to Eadric's mother, Æthelgyth. Ælfgifu is often identified with Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig, and that queen's documented mother, Æthelgifu, would then be Eadric's wife.
Notes
^Though he is often referred to as "Ealdorman of Wessex" by modern scholars this title is anachronistic and is not used in any primary source. More accurately, he was an ealdorman who ruled land in central Wessex.
Lapidge, Michael; Blair, John; Keynes, Simon; Scragg, Donald (2 October 2013). The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN978-1-118-31610-8.
Woolf, Alex (2007). From Pictland to Alba: 789 - 1070. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN978-0-7486-1234-5.
eadric, ealdorman, wessex, eadric, Ædric, tenth, century, ealdorman, wessex, youngest, four, sons, Æthelfrith, ealdorman, mercia, wife, Æthelgyth, from, until, death, eadric, second, most, senior, ealdorman, england, surpassed, only, brother, Æthelstan, half, . Eadric AEdric fl 942 949 was a tenth century ealdorman of Wessex nb 1 He was the youngest of four sons of AEthelfrith an ealdorman in Mercia and his wife AEthelgyth From 946 until his death in 949 Eadric was the second most senior ealdorman in England surpassed only by his brother AEthelstan Half King EadricEaldormanEaldorman of WessexReignc 942 949PredecessorAElfhereSuccessorAEthelsigeFatherAEthelfrithMotherAEthelgyth Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 Citations 4 Sources 5 External linksBiography EditEadric was born to AEthelfrith an ealdorman who ruled territory in southern and eastern Mercia and his wife AEthelgyth who came from a family with considerable wealth that owned land in Buckinghamshire Eadric was the youngest of four brothers the other three being AElfstan AEthelstan Half King and AEthelwold all four of whom were made ealdormen between 925 and 950 1 AElfstan the eldest brother succeeded to his father s ealdordom upon the death of his father around 915 though he died in 934 AEthelstan Half King was made Ealdorman of East Anglia in 932 though his jurisdiction also included Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire Huntingdonshire and parts of Lincolnshire AEthelwold was granted an ealdordom in 940 ruling over Kent and neighbouring counties including Essex Eadric was the last of the four brothers to be granted an ealdordom ruling over central Wessex from 942 onwards 2 He succeeded a man named AElfhere as ealdorman 3 By about 945 Eadric and his two surviving brothers between them controlled over half the kingdom 4 Beginning in 943 AEthelstan is listed first among the king s ealdormen when witnessing charters indicating his premier position AEthelwold is listed second and Eadric is listed between third and sixth depending on the particular charter 1 AEthelwold died in 946 leaving land in Sussex and on the Berkshire Downs to Eadric A later charter by King Eadred details land at these same two places to be given to Eadric though it is not known whether this refers to new land or is simply of a confirmation of the land left to Eadric by his brother 3 Following AEthelwold s death Eadric is listed second only to his brother AEthelstan when witnessing royal charters 1 Eadric died in 949 and was succeeded as ealdorman by AEthelsige 3 It is possible that Eadric was the father of AEthelweard historian if true then he had at least four children the others being AEthelweard s siblings AElfweard AElfgifu and AElfwaru This identification rests on AElfgifu s possession of the estate of Risborough which had belonged to Eadric s mother AEthelgyth AElfgifu is often identified with AElfgifu wife of Eadwig and that queen s documented mother AEthelgifu would then be Eadric s wife Notes Edit Though he is often referred to as Ealdorman of Wessex by modern scholars this title is anachronistic and is not used in any primary source More accurately he was an ealdorman who ruled land in central Wessex Citations Edit a b c Hart 2004 Woolf p 182 a b c Hart 1973 p 108 Lapidge et al p 58Sources EditHart Cyril 1973 Athelstan Half King and his family Anglo Saxon England Cambridge University Press 2 115 144 doi 10 1017 s0263675100000375 ISBN 0 521 20218 3 Hart Cyril 2004 AEthelstan fl 932 956 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 8917 Retrieved 24 March 2015 Subscription or UK public library membership required Lapidge Michael Blair John Keynes Simon Scragg Donald 2 October 2013 The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo Saxon England John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 1 118 31610 8 Woolf Alex 2007 From Pictland to Alba 789 1070 Edinburgh University Press ISBN 978 0 7486 1234 5 External links EditEadric 14 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eadric Ealdorman of Wessex amp oldid 1122236278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
