Aethelflaed

You all know the name, right?

Aethelflaed

Well if you’re English, you should, because she was instrumental in forming what is now England.

When she was born in around 870AD, England didn’t exist and was several separate kingdoms.
A large part of the Island of Britain was ruled by Vikings, with two major kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex opposing them.

One of the greatest Britons, Alfred the Great, ruled Wessex and Mercia, although Mercia was run by Lord Aethelred. (He was allowed to rule Mercia).

Alfred the Great

Alfred had 2 sons and 3 daughters and at 16, Aethelflaed was married to Aethelred and became Lady of Mercia.

Like most places then and now, women did not hold true positions of power and supported their husbands only.

Aethelflaed was a little different; she had been brought up at a time of great conflict, with dozens of battles being fought around her. She was very well educated, due to Alfred’s influence and guidance over education.

Marrying into what was all-but royalty allowed her to use her skills in military leadership and diplomacy.

Aethelred was older then Aethelflaed and after his death, she was proclaimed ruler of Mercia and became queen in every aspect except title.

This woman was a great leader, and after several battles, she started to attack the Vikings and was instrumental in defeating them with her brother Edward (ruler of Anglo-Saxon England).
It is recorded that she led her army during the battle to free Derby from Viking rule, in 917 at the age of 46. (16 miles from my home).

Aethelflaed is unique in Anglo-Saxon England as a woman ruling in her own right, and unique in British history in that she passed her power on to her daughter, Aelfwynn

Soon after Aelfwynn's accession to the throne, her uncle, King Edward the Elder, worried about Mercia’s power. Within months, he marched north, deposing her.
English history was written by men, so Aethelflaed was not written out of history, she was never written in.

Her history was written and praised by others, like the Welsh and Irish, and by their records, we know about the person that made England.

In their history, Edward the Elder is hardly mentioned, but it was Aethelflaed that marched her army against the Welsh and Danes, so it was her that was prominent, not the king.