New
New
Year 1

Aethelflaed and the bones of Saint Oswald

I can explain how Aethelflaed became an important Anglo-Saxon ruler in the fight against the Vikings.

New
New
Year 1

Aethelflaed and the bones of Saint Oswald

I can explain how Aethelflaed became an important Anglo-Saxon ruler in the fight against the Vikings.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Alfred needed other parts of Britain to be strong again, so he arranged for Aethelflaed to marry the leader of Mercia.
  2. The man Aethelflaed married was called Aethelred, and together they made Mercia strong again to resist the Vikings.
  3. Aethelred was much older than Aethelflaed; as he got old and sick and eventually died, Aethelflaed ruled Mercia herself.
  4. Aethelflaed stood up to the Vikings; ordering a group of soldiers to go on a special mission into Viking lands.
  5. The soldiers brought back the bones of an important Anglo-Saxon saint, Oswald, which won Aethelflaed a lot of respect.

Common misconception

The names Aethelflaed and Aethelred are very similar and may be mistaken for the same person.

Highlight that the two names are very similar but that Aethelflaed was the daughter of Alfred the Great and became Lady of Mercia, whereas Aethelred was the king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

Keywords

  • Mercia - the large Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the midlands of Britain was called Mercia

  • Respect - to respect someone is to admire their achievements and abilities

  • Saint - a saint is a dead person who the Christian Church recognise as having lived a very holy life

Task A can be completed as a group task. Encourage discussion of the questions amongst the children. Provide an enlarged copy of the task sheet. An adult could scribe the children's ideas.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Aethelflaed (the daughter of King Alfred) lived in Scotland?
True
Correct answer: False
Q2.
Where did Aethelflaed live?
on a farm
Correct answer: at court
in a palace
Q3.
Pick the right word to finish this sentence: Aethelflaed lived during the time of the
Correct answer: the Anglo-Saxons
the Celts
the Romans
Q4.
How did the Vikings travel to Britain to attack the Anglo-Saxons?
by air
Correct answer: by sea
by horse
Q5.
What did Aethelflaed's father do when the Vikings attacked Wessex?
He let them take over his kingdom.
He ran away and hid.
Correct answer: He gathered a big army.
Q6.
Why was Aethelflaed's father called 'Alfred the Great'?
He was very large and tall.
Correct answer: He beat the Vikings at a big battle.
He was talented at many things.

6 Questions

Q1.
Why did Alfred the Great want to help King Mercia become strong?
Correct answer: He wanted him to be able to fight and beat the Vikings.
He was kind and wanted to help his friends become better.
He wanted him to be able to help him build bigger towns.
Q2.
Who did Alfred’s daughter, Aethelflaed, marry?
King of Wessex
King of Kent
Correct answer: King of Mercia
Q3.
Which sentences about King and Lady Mercia are correct?
Correct answer: Aethelflaed and Aethelred kept Mercia safe from the Vikings.
When Aethelred died, Aethelflaed went back to Wessex
Correct answer: Aethelflaed became known as the Lady of Mercia.
Q4.
Why did Aethelflaed have the respect of the Anglo-Saxons?
Correct answer: She was brave and carried on keeping Mercia safe from the Vikings.
She was very clever and wrote lots of important books.
She was great artist and created many beautiful paintings.
Q5.
True or false? Aethelflaed sent her soldiers on a special mission to find the lost bones of Saint Oswald.
Correct answer: True
False
Q6.
Where were Saint Oswald's bones kept?
Correct answer: In a special new building called Saint Oswald’s Priory.
In a special new building called King Oswald's Castle.
In a special new building called Saint Oswald's Cathedral.

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