Description

A skilled warrior queen and popular, respected ruler Aethelflaed was the eldest daughter of England’s founding King Alfred the Great of Wessex. She was born into war times – when Viking raiders constantly invaded the many kingdoms of Britain.
King Alfred made sure that this daughter was highly educated and knowledgeable in strategy and warfare. Aethelflaed shared her father’s vision of a unified and strong England. She married Aethelflaed of Mercia, English Midlands and ruled with him
although she was the controlling force from early on.
Aethelflaed created a military organization and went on to develop fortresses, wall repairs and protection for many of her cities. When her father died in 899, her brother Edward came to the throne. She worked with him and his forces to jointly repulse Viking invaders.
She, along with her brother, undertook campaigns to bring other small states under their English banner.
In 911 her husband died and she became sole ruler of Mercia. Not taking the sovereign title, she became known as the ‘Lady of the Mercians’.
In June 918 Aethelflaed mysteriously died, some believe the result of plague which often presented in English summers.