Ealhswith of Mercia Family Tree & Biography (d.902)

 

Ealhswith of Mercia was a member of the House of Mercia and the House of Wessex by marriage. She was the daughter of Earldorman Aethelred Mucel and married King Alfred the Great. 

Contents

Ealhswith of Mercia Family Tree Image
Ealhswith of Mercia Family Tree in Table Form
Ealhswith of Mercia Short Biography

 

Ealhswith of Mercia Family Tree Image showing:

parents, sibling, husband, children and grandchildren

 

Ealhswith of Mercia Family Tree in Table Form showing:

grandparents, parents, siblings, wife, children and grandchildren

 

 

Ealhswith of Mercia Short Biography

Ealhswith of Wessex was born around 852 to Aethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of Mercia and his wife Eadburh. There are no recorded details of her early life but in 868 she married Alfred, the younger brother of King Aethelred I. Aethelred had two sons so Alfred was not expected to be King. 

In 871 King Aethelred died from injuries sustained at the Battle of Meretun. His two sons were considered too young to rule, particularly in the face of continuous attacks by the Vikings, so Alfred became King.

Eager to maintain peace, Alfred made a deal with the Viking leader Guthrum. However, Guthrum broke the deal and attacked Wessex. Alfred lost the support of the Witan and fled to the Somerset marshes at Athelney.

Having regrouped and refocused, Alfred successfully defeated the Vikings in May 878 and banished them to the north. Alfred died in 899 and was succeeded by the couple’s eldest son, Edward.

Around 900 Ealhswith founded St Mary’s Abbey in Winchester. She died on 5th December 902 and is buried in New Minster, Winchester

 

Published June 2, 2024 – Updated – Dec 4 2024