New
New
Year 6
Aethelflaed and Aethelred
I can describe how Aethelflaed strengthened Mercia alongside her husband Aethelred.
New
New
Year 6
Aethelflaed and Aethelred
I can describe how Aethelflaed strengthened Mercia alongside her husband Aethelred.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- After Alfred’s treaty with Guthrum, he controlled much of Mercia but made himself their overlord instead of their king.
- Alfred married his daughter, Aethelflaed to Mercia’s most powerful man: Aethelred.
- Aethelflaed was heavily involved in rebuilding Mercia following Viking occupation by building burhs.
- Her rule was strengthened by her piety; she built a priory at Gloucester which housed the recaptured bones of St Oswald.
- By 902, her older husband was sick and Aethelflaed defeated Vikings at Chester in 907.
Keywords
Overlord - an overlord is a person of great power or authority
Burh - a burh is an Anglo-Saxon fortification or fortified settlement
Saint - a saint is a holy person who has died and been officially recognised and honoured by the Christian church
Common misconception
Pupils may not realise the significant leading role Aethelflaed had during this time.
Aethelflaed was thought to have been a strong, independent and well-educated woman. She had learnt a great deal about military leadership and strategy by watching her father King Alfred.
Recreate an Anglo-Saxon burh to give the pupils a sense of the protection they offered.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
When was the Viking invasion of York?
793 CE
1066 CE
1215 CE
Q2.
What did the Vikings rename York as?
Wessex
Danelaw
Eoforwic
Q3.
What is the historical name given to an object made by a human being, which is often of historical interest?
fossil
relic
monument
Q4.
What methods can archaeologists use to find out about the past?
studying ancient languages
Q5.
What was the type of soil called that helped preserve the artefacts found at Coppergate?
sandy and dry
sandy and moist
peaty and dry
Q6.
What was so impressive about many of the artefacts discovered at the Coppergate excavation?
They had completely rotted away as they were organic remains.
Only a few of the organic remains were well preserved.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What was the area of Britain that King Alfred allowed the Danes to control?
the Danemarsh
the Daneland
the Daneking
Q2.
What is the historical term given to a person of great power or authority?
overlady
overking
overqueen
Q3.
Who did King Alfred marry his daughter, Aethelflaed, to?
Guthrum
Ivor
Erikson
Q4.
What had Aethelflaed learnt from watching her father, King Alfred?
How to negotiate peace agreements
The importance of education and literacy
The art of Viking shipbuilding
Q5.
What is the name of the fortifications that Aethelflaed decided to protect the Mercian borders with?
ditches
fences
banks
Q6.
What title was Aethelflaed called, when she continued to rule Merica after her husband had died?
Additional material
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