Æthelburg of Wessex

Æthelburg
Queen of Wessex
Reign c. 688-726
Predecessor Cynethryth
Successor Frithugyth
Spouse Ine of Wessex
House House of Wessex (by marriage)
Born c. 673
Died c. 740 (aged 66–67)

Queen Æthelburg, (also Æthelburh or Ethelburga) (ca. 673-740) was the wife of King Ine of Wessex. In 722 CE, she destroyed the stronghold of Taunton (which had been built by Ine) in an attempt to find the rebel Ealdbert.[1]

Life

Æthelburg was born circa 673. She was the wife of King Ine of Wessex. The couple ruled jointly, and Æthelburg is considered by some historians to be one of the few Anglo-Saxon women warriors.[2] In 722, Æthelburg burned down the city of Taunton, a city built by Ine, to avoid its destruction by enemies.[3] In 726 King Ine of Wessex abdicated the throne, and, with Æthelburg, went to Rome.[4]

She is sometimes confused with Æthelburg of Kent, the wife of Edwin of Northumbria, who founded the Lyminge monastery in Kent.[5]

Legacy

Æthelburg is a featured figure on Judy Chicago's installation piece The Dinner Party, being represented as one of the 999 names on the Heritage Floor.[6][7] However, the biography Chicago uses is a combination of Æthelburg of Wessex and Æthelburg of Kent.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ashley, Mike (1998). The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens. London: Robinson Publishing. p. 309.
  2. ↑ Kevin R. Brine; Elena Ciletti; Henrike Lähnemann (2010). The Sword of Judith: Judith Studies Across the Disciplines. Open Book Publishers. pp. 172–. ISBN 978-1-906924-15-7.
  3. ↑ "Ine". 1911 Encyclopedia. 1911. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Parks, George B. 1954. The English traveler to Italy. First volume, First volume. Roma: Edizioni di storia e letteratura. 31
  5. ↑ Eckenstein, Lina. 1963. Woman under monasticism; chapters on saint-lore and convent life between CE 500 and CE 1500. (New York: Russell & Russell), 84.
  6. ↑ Chicago, 105.
  7. ↑ "Aethelburg". Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Aethelburg. Brooklyn Museum. 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2011.

Bibliography