This book offers the first dedicated and comprehensive examination of the lives of nearly thirty women known to occupy the office of queen in the English kingdoms between 650 and 850.
The queens of early England are often shadowy figures in the historical record, beset by numerous issues which have largely confined them to the margins of history. Through careful analysis, the volume presents a ground-breaking appraisal of the role of queens in early England, and how their actions and identities shaped their practice of queenship. Organised thematically, it offers an overview of queens in many different roles, such as agents of Christianity, mothers, and peace-weavers. From high profile queens such as Æthelthryth of Ely and Cynethryth of Mercia, to the shadowy Leofrun of East Anglia and the nameless queen of Anna of East Anglia, the book engages with sources to advance fuller narratives about even the most obscure queens of the era.
Aided by resources such as genealogical tables, Early English Queens, 650–850 is an ideal resource for students and scholars at all levels, as well general readers, interested in the lives of queens and early English history.
Author(s): Stefany Wragg
Series: Lives of Royal Women
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 288
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Illustrations
Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Note on the Names
Introduction: Speculum Reginae: Early English Queens, 650–850
What Was a Queen?
Early England
Kent
Northumbria
East Anglia
Wessex
Mercia
Surrey
Sussex
Essex
Northern European Queens
Frankish Queenship
Norse Queenship
Sources
Regnal Tables
Overview of Chapters
Notes
1 Christian Queens
Queen of Heaven: Mary in The Advent Lyrics
Queens as Saints
Queens and Saints: Five Seventh-Century Queens
Sister Saint: Seaxburh
A Shrewd Negotiator: Domne Eafe
Learning and Layers of Identity: Cuthburh
Between the Lines: Osgyth
An Exceptional Saint: Æthelthryth of Ely
Other Christian Queens
Eafe of Sussex
Frithugyth of Wessex
Conclusion
Notes
2 Queens as Mothers
A Model Mother: Elene
An Exceptional Queen and Mother: Cynethryth of Mercia
Slave, Queen, Mother, Saint: Balthild
Saintly Mother, Saintly Daughter: Eormenhild
Failed Mothers? Three Queens and Two Martyr Princes
Ælfthryth and Cynehelm
Cynethryth and Wigmund, Ælfflæd and Wigstan
Mother, Teacher: Osburh
Conclusion
Notes
3 The Peaceweaver (FreoÐuwebbe): A Queenly Custom?
The Theoretical Background
Sister-swap: Ealhflæd and Cyneburh
Unfinished Business: Osthryth of Mercia
‘A Tyrant After the Manner of Her Father’: Eadburh
A Hypothetical Peaceweaver: Leofrun
Conclusion
Notes
4 The Voiceless Queens
The Queens of Wihtred of Kent: Cynegyth, Æthelburh and Wærburh
‘I, Æthelthryth, Queen, Consent’
Nameless Mother of Saints: Anna’s Queen
Echoes of Power: Cynewise, Seaxburh and Æthelburh
Cynewise
Seaxburh: A Queen Regent?
Æthelburh
What’s in a Name: Eormenburg and Eormengyth
Eormenburg
Eormengyth
Conclusion
Notes
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
