Aelfhtryth of Devon

Aelfthryth was a controversial figure - wife of King Edgar,  mother of Aethelred the Unready. 

But it is the murder of her step-son Edward to which all hold her solely accountable and for which she will always be unjustly remembered. For it is claimed that history is written by the victors, though in these early times it was written by the clergy to whom Aelfthryth often found herself at odds.  Could she have hoped for a fair and unbiased retelling of events – it is highly doubtful.  We shall never know the whole truth surrounding the events of the death of Edward – nor will we ever fully know what role – if any – Aelfthryth did play.

List to the guest podcast that I wrote for David Crowther's "The History of Britain" series.


Aelfthryth of Devon: http://historyofengland.typepad.com/files/43a-aelfthryth-by-melisende-1.mp3