Utterly fascinating. Whether it's true or not, I really enjoy the anecdote about Alfred's love of reading being inspired by his mother. It brings the past so close you almost feel like you could be in the room.
The West Saxons certainly had a complicated relationship with the wives of their kings.
Never quite understood why – I guess it has something to do with dynastic politics and power that – Alfred chose to follow the ‘custom’ where his own wife (Ealhswith), like his mother (Osburh), would not be called queen. Yet Wulfthyth, the wife of Alfred’s brother Æthelred, was called regina.
I wonder the same thing, @Geoff Spencer. Also, Alfred grew up with a stepmom who was called queen. He appeared to have had tender moments with his mom (reading sessions) before her passing. Why did he not continue the tradition his father re-established and allow his own wife to be queen? Why did he not ‘restore’ the honor deprived his mom when he had the power to do so? Those were some wild times. So glad to be here in the 21C!
Utterly fascinating. Whether it's true or not, I really enjoy the anecdote about Alfred's love of reading being inspired by his mother. It brings the past so close you almost feel like you could be in the room.
The West Saxons certainly had a complicated relationship with the wives of their kings.
Never quite understood why – I guess it has something to do with dynastic politics and power that – Alfred chose to follow the ‘custom’ where his own wife (Ealhswith), like his mother (Osburh), would not be called queen. Yet Wulfthyth, the wife of Alfred’s brother Æthelred, was called regina.
I wonder the same thing, @Geoff Spencer. Also, Alfred grew up with a stepmom who was called queen. He appeared to have had tender moments with his mom (reading sessions) before her passing. Why did he not continue the tradition his father re-established and allow his own wife to be queen? Why did he not ‘restore’ the honor deprived his mom when he had the power to do so? Those were some wild times. So glad to be here in the 21C!
Did Alfred ever mention his mother in his own writing? Did he write letters or anything besides translate other peoples’ works? Just curious.