Ældgyth

  General Notes:

ÆLDGYTH, widow of SIGEFERTH, daughter of --- . The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "prince Edmund…abducted [Siferth's widow] against the king's will and made her his wife" but does not name her. Simeon of Durham records that Edmund married "Algitha widow of Sigeferth" in 1015. According to Ronay, she was the daughter of Olof "Skotkonung" King of Sweden and his concubine Edla of Vindland, but the author cites no primary source to support this suggestion. If the assertion is correct, it is surprising that Ældgyth is not mentioned with the Swedish king's other children in the Saga of Olaf Haraldson. In addition, there would be no explanation for Ældgyth's first marriage to an obscure Northumbrian nobleman, especially as King Olof's two known daughters made high-profile marriages with the Grand Prince of Kiev and the king of Norway. Simeon of Durham records that, after Ældgyth's first husband was murdered on the orders of Eadric "Streona/the Acquisitor" Ealdorman of Mercia, Ældgyth was arrested and brought to Malmesbury on the orders of King Æthelred II who had confiscated her husband's properties in the north of England. She was abducted and married, against the king's wishes, by her second husband who proceeded to take possession of her first husband's properties. No mention has been found of Queen Ældgyth after the death of her second husband.

Ældgyth married Sigeferth of Mercia, son of Arngrim of Mercia and Unknown. (Sigeferth of Mercia died in 1015 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1, GB.). The cause of his death was Murdered.

Ældgyth next married Eadmund of England King of England, son of Æthelred II of England King of England and Ælfgiva, in 1015 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16, GB.¹ (Eadmund of England King of England was born about 990, died on 30 Nov 1016 and was buried in Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9EL, GB.)