Ælfred Æþeling

Ælfred Æþeling, born around 1012, was a son of King Æthelred the Unready and his second wife, Emma of Normandy. He was one of eight siblings, with his brother Edward the Confessor also a notable figure in English history. Their lives were entwined with the political turmoil of the time, as they became stepsons to King Canute when he married their mother. Following the Siege of London in 1013, Ælfred and his family sought refuge in Normandy, returning only after Æthelred’s brief restoration to the throne and subsequent death in 1016.

After Canute’s death in 1035, the heirs of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy, including Ælfred, sought to reclaim the English throne. Ælfred’s attempt to return to England ended in tragedy when he was betrayed and captured by Earl Godwin of Wessex, resulting in his blinding and death soon after. His demise deeply affected the political landscape and relationships among the Anglo-Saxon elite, particularly influencing the perception of Earl Godwin and his sons.