ÆThelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, and Women in Tenth-Century England - (Publications of the Richard Rawlinson Center) by Rebecca Hardie (Hardcover)

About the Book

2thelflµd (c. 870-918), political leader, military strategist, and administrator of law, is one of the most important ruling women in English history. Despite her multifaceted roles and family legacy, however, her reign and relationship with other women in tenth-century England have never been the subject of a book-length study. This interdisciplinary collection of essays redresses a notable hiatus in scholarship of early medieval England. 2thelflµd, Lady of the Mercians, and Women in Tenth-Century England argues for a reassessment of women's political, military, literary, and domestic agency. It invites deeper reflection on the female kinships, networks, and communities that give meaning to 2thelflµd's life, and through this shows how medieval history can invite new engagements with the past.

Book Synopsis

Æthelflæd (c. 870-918), political leader, military strategist, and administrator of law, is one of the most important ruling women in English history. Despite her multifaceted roles and family legacy, however, her reign and relationship with other women in tenth-century England have never been the subject of a book-length study. This interdisciplinary collection of essays redresses a notable hiatus in scholarship of early medieval England. Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, and Women in Tenth-Century England argues for a reassessment of women's political, military, literary, and domestic agency. It invites deeper reflection on the female kinships, networks, and communities that give meaning to Æthelflæd's life, and through this shows how medieval history can invite new engagements with the past.

From the Back Cover

Æthelflæd (d. 918), Queen, administrator of law, military and political leader, is one of the most significant women in English history. Despite her multifaceted roles and family legacy, however, she has never been the subject of a book-length study. This interdisciplinary collection of essays redresses a notable hiatus in scholarship of early medieval England. It also examines Æthelflæd's reign and legacy in the context of women's roles during this period and so challenges a prevailing misconception that the tenth century represents a decline in female agency and power. Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, and Women in Tenth-Century England argues for a reassessment of women's political, military, literary and domestic agency.

Rebecca Hardie is a postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universität, Berlin, and the Managing Editor of the Living Handbook of Temporal Communities in the Excellence Cluster 2020 'Temporal Communities'.

About the Author

Rebecca Hardie is a postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universität, Berlin, and the Managing Editor of the Living Handbook of Temporal Communities in the Excellence Cluster 2020 'Temporal Communities'.