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From: "Todd A. Farmerie" <>
Subject: Re: Re[4]: HELP: Ethelbald - Ethelbert - Ethelred
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 02:27:49 GMT


In a previous article, (Chris Bennett) says:

>See CJB:
>
>plausible. His suggestion that Saxo Grammaticus is correct in stating that
>Thyra, wife of Gorm the Old of Denmark, was a daughter of Aethelred I seems
>especially questionable to me.
>

An earlier work from the Saga Book is usually cited as a good discussion of
the issue (sorry, I don't remember the authors name). He concludes that
the conflicting statements that Thyra was daughter of Harold Klak or of
Aethelred represent separate but accurate traditions. He concludes that
Gorm married first one, then the other, a brilliant solution to the
problem. I think both are likely wrong.

>In a previous article, (Chris Bennett) says:
>
>>A couple of comments on this:
>>
>>Edward I was initially succeeded by his eldest legitimate son Aelfhelm, who
>>died however very shortly (I think 3 weeks) thereafter. Because his reign
was
>>so short and so long ago it has been overlooked till very recently (ref is
>>again Kirby's book. This is due to come back to UCSD library very soon, so I
>>will verify both this point and queen Wulfthryth firsthand -- and take
xeroxes
>>for future reference. If I've got them wrong I will eat humble pie!).
>
>This is the first I have seen this, so a confirmation (perhaps even a
>quote) would be helpful.
>
>CJB: On Wulfryth, the Kelley paper notes that she is attested as active in
>868, i.e. in Ethelred's reign. While it is possible that she was Ethelbert's
>queen and widow at this time, it seems much more likely to me that she was
>Ethelred's queen. Not proven, but high probability.
>
>CJB: On "Aelfhelm", I checked my notes last night, and I remembered the name
>wrong, its Aelfweard, apologies to all. When Kirby comes back I'll give you
>the quote, or at least the reference, be patient!
>

I looked at my ASC last night, and it does report a son of Edward who died
16 days after his father. I suspect that this is the individual you have
in mind. The problem with the interpretation that he succeeded his father
is two fold. First, no indication is made in the chronicle that he was
either the oldest son, or that he was king. No account that I have seen of
the family of Edward place this prince as even belonging to the first wife,
but I do not know whether there is a direct statement as to his maternity
among the later historians (whose work servs as the basis for the marriages
of the varios daughters), or if it is just a guess. Also no statement is
made that he was king when he died. More importantly, it took more to be
king than just be the oldest son of the predicessor, and I suspect that 16
days is too short a time to bring together the witan to vote on the
succession, and subsequently hold the coronation. I see nothing to suggest
that he was the heir, or that he was ever crowned.

Todd

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