First Crowned Queen Consort of England...and Murderer? | Queen Aelfthryth of Devon

Queen Aelfthryth (also known as Elfrida) is remembered mostly for two things: being the first crowned queen consort in England (and the only Anglo-Saxon one), and for being accused of the murder of her step-son, King Edward, in order to place her son, Aethelred, on the throne. But was Aelfthryth really a murderer? Or are there other possible scenarios? And what else did Aelfthryth contribute, especially as regent during her son's minority? This video looks to answer some of those questions, and offer up a more balanced view of Aelfthryth's reign.
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Sources and related books:
Women in Anglo-Saxon England by Christine Hall - amzn.to/3JLfNQY
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles by Alfred the Great(!) - amzn.to/3Y4rsOU
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Aelfthryth) - www.oxforddnb....
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[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thanks for watching! 😊 What do you guys think about Aelfthryth - was she innocent? Or was she probably involved in her step-son's murder?

[@MousesInHouses]

She's in my family tree, so you could say I'm invested...as for her innocence (or otherwise), who can tell?

[@whanuipuru4446]

People who lived in that time would of been so different in climate, language and the goegraphy would of been full of forests or great stretches of woodland and dense bush etc. Another point would of been the types of animals that roamed England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Wish there,was,a time machine to go back to their times. What languages did these people speak? Just pondering on these many topics!

[@yvonnemichellelopez5769]

I must have had several lifetimes in the middle ages and watching channels like this feels like going home....time traveling again!!

[@helpinyerdasellavon]

Such a fascinating story. Queen Ælfthryth was a remarkable and enigmatic political figure of her times despite the mysterious murder of the previous King. I'd like a video on Ælfgifu sometime in the future, please. I love how eloquently it has been presented. Thank you, ma'am.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you so much! She definitely is a mysterious figure in regards to the murder of her step-son, but I must admit I leaned a little more to her not ordering it. Possibly. Although I'm never sure! If you mean Aelfgifu of Northampton, she is on my list for a future date, but if you mean Aelfgifu/Emma of Normandy, I do have a video on her already here. 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXPHnqOIeLqkZsU

[@helpinyerdasellavon]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople I'm also leaning more towards her not ordering it but we'll never know, also it would be interesting to consider if he had other local or foreign enemies but as you mentioned, regicide was a major crime. I meant Ælfgifu of Northampton because I've already watched and loved your video on Emma of Normandy. The Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens are fascinating. Love medieval history. Thank you 🙏

[@sarahpersonalexcellenceguide]

I love how diplomatic you are! It’s fantastic to see you turning these nonsense rumors about women rulers on their head! You always show point out the dubiousness of the claims made against women rulers. And as a lover of history, I appreciate you setting records straight and elevating what people think of women’s roles/contributions in the past. Cheers! *Edit for spelling.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you again! 😊 It really is crazy, the more one looks at history, the more claims against women seem to be either complete nonsense or at least based on a fragment of truth.

[@kimauthor]

I can't believe I only came across this channel today.... I love this channel! New fan !!

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you! It's great to have you here. 😊

[@Windthroughcedars]

Honestly even if she was involved, this would be pretty low on terrible things royals have done.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Right? I honestly think if Aelfthryth had been a man, this would have been mentioned in history, but more of a footnote.

[@punkykenickie2408]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople IDK i mean what's Richard III famous for these days?

[@skyefirenails]

Of course, a woman with wealth and power happens to know a guy who gets murked and suddenly she's the evil stepmother that inspired Grimms fairy tales. 🙄. /s

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

It's funny how Aethelred was immediately innocent because of his age, and the countless men around Edward were also never considered. I do think she was probably to blame for the actual murderers getting away (perhaps they had been loyal to her and her son for many years, perhaps they just had help vanishing), but I find it hard to believe she plotted the murder. All sources that exist say they got on well, and she had been his step-mum since he was about 7 or 8, so there's no reason to think there wouldn't be a bond.

[@bjetkabathory5185]

It was quite common in those days close brothers, parents had been killing each other, becoming kings or dukes that way and making their victims saints. Not only in England, in my home country as well. E.g. our "good king Wenceslas" was one of many family feuds´victims in the 10th century: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenceslaus_I,_Duke_of_Bohemia Or look at Eric Bloodaxe of Norway. Another loving family from the 10th century killing each other ;-) @@HistorysForgottenPeople

[@Landstalker1999]

Killing their siblings in order to become king was a common practice in both the west and the east.

[@arkamukhopadhyay9111]

Because women are pure innocent souls incapable of evil?

[@hetalianotaku7103]

@@arkamukhopadhyay9111 I know. Just because chroniclers sometimes had misogynistic attitudes doesn't mean they were always wrong. Look at Anne Boleyn. She may have been innocent of the charges that got her beheaded, but she was by no means an innocent person. She was conniving, cruel, and openly celebrated the death of Catherine of Aragon. And traumatic as Mary I's childhood was, that doesn't excuse her virulent persecution of Protestants during her short reign. As for Ælfthryth honestly, I don't think we'll ever know. But if push really came to shove, I would say she had Edward murdered. Maybe she didn't do it herself, but at the very least ordered it. She stood to benefit the most from it. It was done on her property. She buried him in suspicious haste. The only reason her son became King is because there was literally no other option. We don't have direct evidence either way. But given what we do know, there's too much smoke for there not to be a fire. Point is, misogyny definitely existed (and still does to a degree), but women can be just as diabolical as men.

[@nancys2839]

I really appreciate your videos as it requires much research, excellent writing skill and dramatic reading voice.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you so much! You just made my Saturday. 😊

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

I really love your channel. Your reserach is meticulous and there are stories that need to be heard. So grateful I found you!

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me! 😊 I do try to find the forgotten bits of history if I can, I think it's so much more interesting with them put back in.

[@crocodiledundee8685]

I’m also a new subscriber and would like to recommend you should also cover Gwenllian fetch Gruffyd aka the Welsh Joan of Arc and Jane Whorwood, one of the main financiers and top spies in the English Civil War for Charles I’s cause.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

First off - great to have you here! 😊 And thank you, those are great suggestions. I will definitely add them to my (ever-expanding) list for future videos. I would love to cover some Welsh history.

[@tae_516]

Love this page and one other historical one too! The stories are better than any dramas on TV today. 🤣👀🙌🏽

[@ShirleeKnott]

"This comment is to help keep the algorithm monster fed👑💍📿. Did you know it feeds on comments, replies and likes to both? If you feed it you can watch the channel grow. "

[@mettemettrixx]

Very interesting. Great narrantive and good sources. The only thing I could wish for is that you lower the music volume because it fights for the attention that rightly should be yours alone!! 😊

[@bookwyrm2011]

I think she was innocent because I find it hard to believe that she would be kept as Regent if she was suspected of killing her stepson. 🤷‍♀️

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I agree - even if no one could prove it but suspected her, they could have easily found a male relative to do the job. I personally think she was probably incompetent in finding the real killers (whether accidentally or through misguided loyalty to them), but that is as far as it goes.

[@crocodiledundee8685]

You should also do a video on Queen Nanny of the Maroons who leads a group of escaped slaves called Maroons in a successful guerrilla war against the British on the Jamaica and is now a national hero with her face printed on the 500 Jamaican Dollar.

[@direfranchement]

🙄

[@ari_chameleon]

Good idea! I love that story. So many people have never heard of it.

[@lukegehring5305]

Would have been nice to have mentioned the finding of the relics of St Edward, and the St Edward's Brotherhood shrine.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

You're right, I could have included that. 😊

[@marshaprice8226]

Since there is no contemporary evidence that she had any involvement in the murder and that what power she exercised was accepted, I would likewise accept the contemporary evidence and not keep speculating about her guilt based on accusations made a hundred years later.

[@rosevale3218]

With all the disputes going on in the court and country anyone may have believed they'd be rewarded if the sitting king was gone. I doubt her or her son had much to do with his murder. Unfortunately with that many centuries in between now and then it would be difficult or even impossible to get the truth.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Agreed - it definitely is all conjecture at this point! But I think the same thing, there could really be a huge number of suspects. A lot of people had to gain from Edward's death, least of all his stepmother, who had already been granted her own properties.

[@suzea7090]

She’s one of my ancestors ❤

[@Landstalker1999]

Personally I think she was involved, whether reluctantly or otherwise. Or else it doesn't make sense for her to let the guilty go. Because if someone killed the king on their own will without her blessing it's 100% in her favor to convict those who are guilty. She gets to be the good queen regent who brings justice to the guilty while making sure her and her son is not the one who get blamed for it. It makes absolutely no sense for her to let the guilty go if she wasn't directly or indirectly involved. I personally don't think she is the one who ordered the murder but she definitely knew before hand that it will happen.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

That's fair, I think a lot of historians think the same way. I believe, the only way she really could be innocent and the men got away, is if there was a third guilty party who helped them. There were several powerful ealdormen who benefitted from Edward's death, but of course, no proof at all that any were involved.

[@Landstalker1999]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople At the end of the day there is no proof, therefore nobody should say with certainty that she is guilty. But a lot of people do unfortunately. I don't know how much of realistic power she held in the royal courts at that time but considering the times I would say she is not the one who ordered the killing, even if she were involved.

[@Landstalker1999]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople Also women were portrayed as 'evil' if they tried to step into men's roles back in the day. For example Isabella of France was labeled as she wolf but from looking at her life post marriage, she went thru so much that it makes sense she did what she did. Her ordering of the execution of the Despensers was a little excessive however if a man were to do the same thing, he wouldn't be labeled as a he wolf or something of that sort.

[@lfgifu296]

Boooy I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR TWO MONTHS- or two years if we take into account my longes interest in her :)))

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Haha, no pressure then! 😂 I really enjoyed doing this video, it's just such a shame there's so little contemporary evidence for Aelfthryth.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

My only regret with myself is falling back on the other pronunciation of 'Elfrida', but honestly, my lisp couldn't take so many 'f's and 'th's together. 🤣

[@lfgifu296]

@@HistorysForgottenPeopleI know!! I have no clue how you got your hands on Byrthferth of Ramsey’s work! Unless you payed 200 euros (idk how many pounds that is :’) for his whole book!

[@lfgifu296]

@@HistorysForgottenPeopleHaha dw! It is another way to say it, so- I’m pretty sure she is more bothered with the accusations that she plotted to kill her stepson (real or fake, only she, the killers, and God know) than with your pronunciation of her name haha!

[@diamondtiara84]

I love the background music.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you! I always think the right music just puts you in mind of different eras of history. 😊

[@71avalon36]

​@@HistorysForgottenPeople This background music is perfect for medieval documentary. Really helped me get into it! 😊

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

@@71avalon36 Thank you! I agree - I get some people saying they want no music in my videos, but honestly, I don't feel like I'm 'there' unless there's some music for the time period. :D

[@Hypnobunny1]

Very interesting documentary thank you for sharing 👍

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you, I hope you enjoyed it! 😊

[@patricialong5767]

Those Vikings (my ancestors) were notoriously violent and devious! Ethelred the Ready.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I think his epithet is so unfair, poor boy! Apparently, I think it's a play on words, as his given name means 'noble counsel' (well-advised, if you will), and so he was given the extra 'unredi', meaning ill-advised. But of course, it has a slightly different meaning today!

[@drelevatorlestrange]

Anya Seton I think it was who wrote a historical fiction on this that is a very good read

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@CadeD679]

​​@@HistorysForgottenPeople It's called Avalon! It is excellent.

[@lianefehrle9921]

What a pretty name for a queen.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

It's beautiful, but my lisp will not allow me to say it well enough, sadly! 🤣

[@71avalon36]

​@@HistorysForgottenPeople I don't have a lisp and I still can't say her name! 😅

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

@@71avalon36 It's no wonder they made another pronunciation for her name! 😂 I wonder if she got sick of people in her own time not pronouncing it right...

[@Landstalker1999]

Earlier medieval names were so unique and beautiful. Later medieval names were so uninspiring. Every king, queen and nobles are Charles, Henry, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth.

[@sandraobrien8705]

Love Anglo-Saxon names. Aelfthryth is so much nicer than Elfriede.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

It really is lovely, but my lisp makes it sound terrible over a recording! Hence my decision on the part of those listening to go with Elfrida. 🤣

[@sandraobrien8705]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople Oh I would have done the same. I'd trip over my tongue saying it over and over.

[@CadeD679]

I agree!

[@Ravenproctor2966]

I'm sure the truth outweighs the slanders and legends that have been told about her.

[@michellebruce5092]

Hi, how are you? I'm doing well. Awesome live history video I enjoyed it have a great day see you next video 😊

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you, I'm pleased you liked it! Have a great day, too. 😊

[@GraemeBell9864]

8:53 My god! Not only Bernard Cornwell but Conn Iggulden as well. Who else are going to pull in?

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I'm sorry, I'm confused by what you mean? Are you suggesting I've used fictional books as a source? My main sources are the Oxford Dictionary of National biography, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (must admit I use a version translated into modern English!) and various articles from Jstor, through my university - wherever possible, I try to use sources no older than 30-40 years old.

[@excelynite]

I wonder what her favorite color was.

[@montananerd8244]

Ooooh, great x ♾️ grandma!!! This is exciting, I know nothing about her, other than her vital info in the family genealogy book! She certainly won't be the worst person to contribute to me lol...

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Haha, I've got a family tree like that! 🤣 Well, I hope I've helped add a little more knowledge about her for you. 😊

[@Elsidu13]

I don't think anyone can be sure if she was responsible of the murder of her stepson. It was a time that sometimes family's killed each other for the crown. The stories about her that she did murder a King, her stepson who was a anointed King and calling her a witch was typical for that time. In that time everybody killed each other for lands and than they talked about religion. Hypocritical. Wait a minute they still do ;)

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

You're right, it's very hard to know either way as all possible scenarios are possible. What I will say is that the absence of contemporary evidence condemning her is telling, but of course, something may yet be discovered that does just that!

[@rapunzelrose68]

Oh like Camilla...

[@t.dmytryshyn2615]

Yeah she definitely had the King knocked off.

[@hetalianotaku7103]

We don't have enough evidence either way, but the circumstances are very suspicious.