Alfrida
Encyclopedia
Ælfthryth is a saint, venerated in the Roman Catholic Church
, as a virgin, and recluse
, died c. 795. She was a daughter of King Offa
of Mercia
.
According to a late and not very trustworthy legend she was betrothed to Saint Æthelberht, but when he came to the court of Offa to claim her, he was treacherously murdered by the contrivance of Cynethryth
, Offa's queen.
After this Ælfthryth retired to the marshes of Crowland Abbey, where she was built into a cell and lived as a recluse to the end of her days. It is impossible not to suspect the existence of some confusion with Ælfleda
, another daughter of Offa, whose husband was also murdered by treachery.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, as a virgin, and recluse
Recluse
A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary seclusion from the public and society, often close to nature. The word is from the Latin recludere, which means "shut up" or "sequester." There are many potential reasons for becoming a recluse: a personal philosophy that rejects consumer society; a...
, died c. 795. She was a daughter of King Offa
Offa
Offa may refer to:Two kings of the Angles, who are often confused:*Offa of Angel , on the continent*Offa of Mercia , in Great BritainA king of Essex:*Offa of Essex A town in Nigeria:* Offa, Nigeria...
of Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
.
According to a late and not very trustworthy legend she was betrothed to Saint Æthelberht, but when he came to the court of Offa to claim her, he was treacherously murdered by the contrivance of Cynethryth
Cynethryth
Cynethryth was the wife of Offa of Mercia and mother of Ecgfrith of Mercia. Cynethryth is the only Anglo-Saxon Queen consort in whose name coinage was definitely issued.-Origins and marriage:...
, Offa's queen.
After this Ælfthryth retired to the marshes of Crowland Abbey, where she was built into a cell and lived as a recluse to the end of her days. It is impossible not to suspect the existence of some confusion with Ælfleda
Ælfflæd of Mercia
Ælfflæd was a daughter of Offa of Mercia and Cynethryth.She may have witnessed a charter with her father, mother, and brother Ecgfrith in the 770s, and again in 787 with her mother, father, brother, and two sisters; here she is described as virgo—unmarried.It is possible that she was the...
, another daughter of Offa, whose husband was also murdered by treachery.