Ælfthryth, wife of Edgar

10th century queen consort of England

Ælfthryth (c. 945 - 1000 or 1001, also Alfrida, Elfrida or Elfthryth) was the second or third wife of King Edgar of England. Ælfthryth was the first king's wife known to have been crowned and anointed as Queen of the Kingdom of England. Mother of King Æthelred the Unready, she was a powerful political figure. She was linked to the murder of her stepson King Edward the Martyr and appeared as a stereotypical bad queen and evil stepmother in many medieval histories.

Ælfthryth
Queen consort of England
Tenure964/965 - 8 July 975
Coronation11 May 973
PredecessorÆlfgifu
SuccessorÆlfgifu of York
Bornc. 945
Died1000 or 1001
SpouseEdgar, King of England
IssueEdmund of England
Æthelred, King of England
FatherOrdgar, Ealdorman of Devon

Early life

change

Ælfthryth was the daughter of Ealdorman Ordgar. Her mother was a member of the royal family of Wessex.

Preceded by
Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig
Queen Consort of England
965–975
Succeeded by
Ælfgifu of York