Ælfthryth of Wessex (c872-929)

Main

tree

descendants

ahnentafel

Ælfthryth of Wessex ‡
Birth:	872 England, United Kingdom (Wessex) Ω
Death:	7 June 929
Father:	Alfred the Great (849-899)
Mother:	Ealhswith (c852-905)
Spouse / partner:	Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918)
Wedding:	896 ₪
Sex:
Familysearch afn:	9GCX-HT
Edit Facts

• Anglo-Saxon Princess
• Countess of Flanders
• AKA: Ælfthryth, Elftrude, or Elfrida

Ælfthryth of Wessex was born circa 872 in England, United Kingdom (Wessex) to Alfred the Great (849-899) and Ealhswith (c852-905) and died 7 June 929 of unspecified causes. She married Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918) 896 ^JL .

Biography

Ælfthryth of Wessex was the youngest child of Alfred the Great (849-899), the Saxon King of England and his wife Ealhswith (c852-905). Overall, Ælfthryth of Wessex was an important figure in the political and social history of both England and Flanders. Her marriage to Baldwin II helped to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two regions, and her influence at the English court made her one of the most powerful women of her time.

Marriage and family

In 884 Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918) married Ælfthryth (Ælfthryth, Elftrude, Elfrida), a daughter of King Alfred the Great of England. The marriage was motivated by the common Flemish-English opposition to the Vikings, and was the start of an alliance that was a mainstay of Flemish policy for centuries to come.

1. Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) - eldest son, successor as Count of Flanders.
2. Adalulf of Flanders (c890-933) was (the first) Count of Boulogne.
3. Ealswid of Flanders (c865-?) - daughter
4. Ermentrud of Flanders (c869-896) - daughter

It is not known what became of her daughters Ermentrud and Ealswid.

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.

Children

Offspring of Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918) and Ælfthryth of Wessex
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965)	890	28 March 965	Adele de Vermandois (910-960)
Adalulf of Flanders (c890-933)	890	13 November 933
Ealswid of Flanders (c865-?)
Ermentrud of Flanders (c869-896)

Siblings

Offspring of Alfred the Great (849-899) and Ealhswith (c852-905)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Edward the Elder (c870-924)	870	17 July 924	Ecgwynn (c875-) Ælfflæd (c880-) Eadgifu of Kent (c902-968)
Æthelflæd (c872-918)	872 Wessex	12 June 918 Tamford, Staffordshire, England	Æthelred of Mercia (c855-911)
Æthelgifu, Abbess of Shaftesbury (?-?)
Ælfthryth of Wessex (c872-929)	872 England, United Kingdom (Wessex)	7 June 929	Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918)
Æthelwærd (c880-922)	880 Wessex	921 Wessex

She had four or five siblings, including King Edward the Elder and Ethelfleda.

Descendants

Ælfthryth was an ancestor of Matilda of Flanders, who married William the Conqueror, first monarch from the House of Normandy, which means that following the Norman conquest of England and the death of William I all the monarchs of England were also descendants of the House of Wessex.

See Also

Bibliography

• Oksanen, Eljas (2012). Flanders and the Anglo-Norman World, 1066-1216. Cambridge University Press. 
• Nicholas, David M (2013). Medieval Flanders. Routledge. 
• Folcwine. Gesta Abbatum S. Bertini Sithiensium.
• Glay, Edward Le (1886). Histoire des comtes de Flandre et des Flamands au moyen âge. Desclée. https://books.google.com/books?id=74ru0NDqFMcC. 
• Abels, Richard P. (1988). Lordship and Military Obligation in Anglo-Saxon England. British Museum Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-7141-0552-9. 

External Links

• wikipedia:en:Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders
• Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders at thePeerage
• Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders - Geni.com
• Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders at Find A Grave
• Counts of Flanders & Hainaut - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

Ancestry Trees

• Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
• Charlemagne Family Ancestry
• Count of Flanders

Contemporary References

Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders, was a prominent figure in European history during the 9th century. Here are some contemporary references that provide insight into his life:

1. The Annals of St. Bertin: This is a chronicle of events from the 9th century, written by monks at the Abbey of St. Bertin in France. The annals provide a detailed account of Baldwin II's reign and his relationship with other rulers of the time.
2. The Chronicle of Nantes: This chronicle was written in the 9th century and covers the history of the city of Nantes in France. It includes information about Baldwin II's activities in the region.
3. The Life of St. Amand: St. Amand was a Christian missionary who lived during Baldwin II's reign. His life story, written by a contemporary author, provides some insight into the religious climate of the time and the role that Baldwin II played in supporting the spread of Christianity.
4. The Vita Eligii: This is a hagiography, or saint's biography, written in the 7th century about Saint Eligius, who lived in the area that later became Flanders. While it is not a contemporary reference to Baldwin II specifically, it provides valuable context about the region and its history.
5. The Royal Frankish Annals: This is a set of annals that cover the history of the Franks from the 8th to the 9th century. It includes information about Baldwin II's interactions with the Frankish rulers of the time.

Royal Succession

Ælfthryth of Wessex (c872-929) House of Wessex Born: c. 877 Died: 7 June 929.
Preceded by Judith of Flanders	Countess consort of Flanders 893-899 to 918	Succeeded by Adele of Vermandois

Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General

Elftrudis/Alfthryth of Wessex at Genealogics WorldConnect: db: jweber, id: I00873 and View Post-em

Ω Birth

Was brought up in her father's court.

₪ Wedding

"Between 893 and 899"

Robin Patterson