Emma of Normandy

Emma of Normandy, also known as Ælfgifu in royal documents, was born around 984 and passed away on 6 March 1052. She was a noblewoman from Normandy who became queen consort of England, Denmark, and Norway through her marriages to Æthelred the Unready and Cnut the Great. Her parents were Richard the Fearless and Gunnor. Emma’s marriage to Æthelred the Unready in 1002 made her Queen of England, a position she held until 1016, except for a brief period when Sweyn Forkbeard took the throne. After Æthelred’s death, she married his conqueror’s son, Cnut, in 1017, becoming Queen of England, Denmark, and Norway. Emma played an active role in politics, especially during the reigns of her sons, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor.

Following Cnut’s death in 1035, Emma acted as regent for her absent son Harthacnut and continued to exert influence during Edward the Confessor’s reign. Her life is documented in the Encomium Emmae Reginae, which is a significant source for early 11th-century English politics. Emma had a total of five children across her two marriages.