Elfrida : the first crowned queen of England

Contrary to popular belief, Anglo- Saxon England had queens, with the tenth-century Elfrida being the most powerful and notorious of them all. She was the first woman to be crowned Queen of England, sharing her husband King Edgar's imperial coronation at Bath in 973. The couple made a love match, with claims that they plotted the death of her first husband to ensure that she was free. Edgar divorced his second wife, a former nun, after conducting an adulterous affair with Elfrida, leading to an enmity between the two women that lasted until their deaths. During her marriage Elfrida claimed to be the king's only legitimate wife, but she failed to secure the succession for her son, Ethelred. Elfrida was implicated in the murder of her stepson, King Edward the Martyr, who died on a visit to her at Corfe Castle. She then ruled England on behalf of her young son for six years before he expelled her from court. Elfrida was eventually able to return to court but, since he proved himself unable to counter the Viking attacks, she may have come to regret winning the crown for Ethelred the Unready. Wife, mother, murderer, ruler, crowned queen. The life of Queen Elfrida was filled with drama as she rose to become the most powerful woman in Anglo-Saxon England. Contrary to popular belief, Anglo-Saxon England had queens, with the tenth century Elfrida being the most powerful and notorious of them all. She was the first woman to be crowned queen of England, sharing her husband King Edgar's imperial coronation at Bath in 973. The couple made a love match, with claims that they plotted the death of her first husband to ensure that she was free. Edgar divorced his second wife, a former nun, after conducting an adulterous affair with Elfrida, leading to an enmity between the two women that lasted until their deaths.During her marriage, Elfrida claimed to be the king's only legitimate wife, but she failed to secure the succession for her son, Ethelred. Elfrida plotted against her stepson, King Edward the Martyr, before arranging his murder at Corfe Castle, where she lived with her son. She then ruled England on behalf of her young son for six years before he expelled her from court. Elfrida was eventually able to return to court but, since he proved himself unable to counter the Viking attacks, she may have come to regret winning the crown for Ethelred the Unready.Wife, mother, murderer, ruler, crowned queen. The life of Queen Elfrida was filled with drama as she rose to become the most powerful woman in Anglo-Saxon England. Contrary To Popular Belief, Anglo-saxon England Had Queens, With The Tenth-century Elfrida Being The Most Powerful And Notorious Of Them All.--bokk Jacket. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1.elfrida's Early Life -- 2.first Marriage -- 3.king Edgar -- 4.elfrida's Marriage And Queenship -- 5.the Tenth-century Religious Reform -- 6.elfrida's Role In The Reform Movement -- 7.imperial Ambitions -- 8.the Heirs Of King Edgar -- 9.the Murder Of Edward The Martyr -- 10.the Aftermath Of The Murder -- 11.ethelred's Minority -- 12.elfrida's Obscurity -- 13.the Return Of The Vikings -- 14.elfrida's Old Age. Elizabeth Norton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The First-ever Biography Of The Most Powerful Woman Of Tenth-century England.