Ethelfleda (alternative spelling Aethelfled or Æthelflæd) (872/879?-918) was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and his wife Ealhswith. She was born around AD 872. She married the ealdorman or earl of Mercia in about 886, and had one daughter, Aelfwynn. On her husband's death in 911, she was elevated to the status of "Lady of the Mercians". This title was not a nominal position; she was a formidable military leader and tactician. Ethelfleda ruled for five years from the newly fortified capital at Stafford, and under her reign, it is likely that the English county of Staffordshire first came into being. She died in 918, and is buried at Gloucester. She was joint lady of the Mercians along with Aelfwynn. She was succeeded as ruler of Mercia by her brother, King Edward the Elder.

This gives some insight into the emergence of England from the union of Wessex and Mercia. The Danes overran most of the English Kingdoms such as Northumbria, Eastern Mercia, East Anglia etc. Alfred and his descendents reconquered these lands from the Danes by 896. The aid given him in this by Mercia had to be acknowledged. Instead of making the dominion of Wessex over Mercia seem like a conquest, Alfred made Ethelfleda's husband Eolderman Aethelred Earl of Mercia, thus allowing some idea of regained autonomy. Since much of Western Mercia was never under the control of the Danes, and remained strong, this was a prudent move. Further prudence prevailed when the kingdoms were absorbed; they were not absorbed into Wessex or greater Wessex but into England. The term Anglo-Saxon thus reflects King Alfred's diplomatic integration of the Mercian Angles and the Saxons.

The dominion of Mercia descended to Ethelfleda's daughter and heiress, Aelfwynn (A.D. 920). Chroniclers have noticed the right of Aelfwynn so precisely as to leave no doubt concerning her claim; and this fact is of considerable value in showing that, contrary to the practice of other Teutonic nations, the sovereign authority amongst the Anglo-Saxons might descend to a female; or, according to the Anglo-Saxon expression, which the French have adopted, "fall to the spindle side".

In this instance, however, the weaker heir was compelled to yield to a more powerful opponent, and one from whom no enmity could have been feared. Aelfwynn was was conducted as a captive into Mercia by her uncle Edward, who was engaged in successful warfare against the Danes; and we do not hear anything more concerning her in history.

Ref.: History of the Anglo-Saxons by Sir Francis Palgrave (1876) (Paperback edition on Senate) page 164.

Further reading

Ian W. Walker. Mercia and the Making of England (2001)

External link

• http://www.geocities.com/pamela_berkman/alfred.html