Æthelgifu, Abbess of Shaftesbury

Æthelgifu, pronounced [ˈæðeljivu] in Old English, was active during the 870s to 890s and is recognized as a daughter of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. Born as the third surviving child from the union of Alfred and Ealhswith in 868, she entered monastic life. Her commitment to her faith was chronicled by Alfred’s biographer, Asser, who described her as devoted to God and subject to the monastic lifestyle.

Her father, Alfred the Great, established Shaftesbury Abbey for nuns and appointed Æthelgifu as its first abbess. Although the exact founding date of the abbey is uncertain, it is established that it was in existence by 893, when Asser was writing. Æthelgifu managed the abbey with support from Alfred, who endowed it with a portion of his royal revenues. Despite being granted estates in Alfred’s will, it is unclear if she lived beyond her father’s death in 899.