Butterworth is best known for playing a lead role as Aelswith the wife of King Alfred the Great, played by David Dawson, in three series of the BBC/Netflix production The Last Kingdom from 2014 to 2020, and mother of King Edward in series 4. Alfred, who is played by David Dawson, is one of the central characters in the BBC historical epic The Last Kingdom, which follows the fictional hero Uhtred. Alfred died on October 26, 899. Alfred and Aethelred took their troops to Nottingham and began a siege. She was prevented from finishing her project by death but her son Edward the Elder completed the foundation and dedicated his daughter Eadburh as a nun. 3. If the character Aelflaed is … Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Posts on 17th and 18th Century French Artists, Pre-Tudor History and the Reign of King Henry VII 1485-1509, আলফ্রেড দ্য গ্রেট: ভাইকিং আক্রমণের বিরুদ্ধে একজন সফল রক্ষক, পর্ব ১ - অসামান্য, A Study in Queenship ~ How Queens Exercised Power « The Freelance History Writer, Osburh, Mother of Anglo-Saxon King Alfred the Great « The Freelance History Writer, Lenora's Culture Center and Foray into History, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Empress Hermine and Emperor Wilhelm II – An Unwanted Match – A guest post by Moniek Bloks, Letter from Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox to William Cecil, Principal Secretary of Queen Elizabeth I – October 5, 1570, Daily Life and Commercial Activities in Roman Macedonia ~ A guest post by Grigorios Charalampidis, The Five Fiancées of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ~ A Guest Post by Heather R. 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Women at that period in history did not have the voices they should have. [4] Whilst training at RADA, Butterworth performed lead roles in "The Daughter in Law" and "The Witch of Edmonton". Learn how your comment data is processed. But she was the mother of illustrious children and she is remembered as “the true and beloved lady of the English”. Further reading: “Alfred the Great: The Man Who Made England” by Justin Pollard, “The Royal Saints of Anglo-Saxon England: A Study of West Saxon and East Anglian Cults” by Susan J. Ridyard, “The Kings and Queens of Anglo-Saxon England” by Timothy Venning, “Alfred the Great” by David Sturdy, “The Royal Line of Succession” by Hugo Vickers, “Alfred the Great: Asser’s Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources” Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge, […] মার্সিয়ান (Mercian) রাজকেন্দ্রের বংশধর এলসওইথ (Ealhswith) এর সাথে বিবাহ বন্ধনে আবদ্ধ হন। […], […] endowment of nunneries and monasteries was carried out by both the kings and queens. The series follows King Alfred (played by … This is where Alfred met and wooed Ealhswith. Although I think it was a very narrow escape for the whole family. Aelswith is fiercely loyal and protective of her husband, King Alfred. We know very little about Ealhswith’s life. I had read that after Guthrum’s attack on Chippenham he held Ealhswith captive. This may be an ancient tribe of Mercia. She was buried in the Old Minster next to Alfred. She was never called queen and she never witnessed any charters during Alfred’s administration. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thank you, always learning!!!!!! At Christmas in January of 878, the Viking leader Guthrum made a surprise attack on Alfred’s royal palace at Chippenham. It was the beginning of an affliction that would last for the rest of his life. But the festivities were interrupted when Alfred fell ill. We don’t really know what the illness was but he seemed to suffer from some intestinal disorder. In his will, he designated that Ealhswith be given one hundred pounds in cash along with two great estates in Berkshire. Gisela’s death in book five, The Burning Land, happened in the first episode of The Last Kingdom season three. I thought this was really interesting, Susan. Content from both the books and the TV series are welcome! But she was the mother of illustrious children and she is remembered as “the true and beloved lady of the English”. They have missed on many way in which to make that town a very big historical tourist attraction. She may have dedicated the land of an urban estate that she owned there for the institution. They even built a small housing estate on a Civil War Battlefield!!!!! The Last Kingdom is on Netflix now and the series is based on the books called The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. She was the daughter of Aethelred Mucil, an east Mercian nobleman. Ealhswith was a Mercian princess who married Alfred, Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex. Battles and war was the way of life, even in this era!!!!! Reblogged this on Lenora's Culture Center and Foray into History and commented: Alfred fled with Ealhswith and his family to the rough and desolate island of Athelney in Somerset where they lived for about four months. So his son was educated in his father school at court, that is very interesting!!!!!! Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles and the French Revolution, a guest post by Katherine Emrick. Alfred succeeded his brother Aethelred as King of Wessex in 871. [3], In 2017 Butterworth appeared in two short films, "(A Very) Ham Fisted Steak Out" by Maximilian G. L. Ward, also "Sometimes I Miss Them" by Yukie Mochizuki. Ealhswith, wife of King Alfred the Great, established the Nunnaminster (St Mary’s Abbey) at Winchester. He and his army had left the fort to go raiding leaving his wife and children behind with just a handful of guards. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Their first child was a daughter, Aethelflaed who was born c. 868. He succeeded his father as king of Wessex when Alfred died. Your email address will not be published. A treaty was negotiated delineating boundaries for the kingdoms of Alfred and Guthrum. It was said that King Alfred married Ealhswith in a church on the site which is now all Saints Church on Church Street. Alfred of Wessex was a main character in both The Saxon Stories novel series, and The Last Kingdom television series. […] Ealhswith, Wife of Alfred the Great, Anglo-Saxon King of Wessex […], […] more centrally located in Wessex. I didn’t realize they had a church there that might be the site of the marriage! Intellectually nourishing, and historically fascinating. In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of the Mercian nobleman Æthelred Mucel, ealdorman of the Gaini, and his wife Eadburh, who was of royal Mercian descent. Ealhswith and Alfred had five children who survived and she may have had other children who died in infancy. ... A subreddit for "The Last Kingdom," the BBC/Netflix television show set in medieval England. In 866, Leeds is a decent sized town, but in The Last Kingdom, it is a tiny farmstead with a handful of houses. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! She married Count Baldwin of Flanders in 893 and was an ancestress of Matilda of Flanders who married William the Conqueror. Abbot Eadred (David Schofield) experiences a holy vision that tells him Guthred, the rightful king of … Butterworth came from Lincolnshire, in England, but is half American with American citizenship. [7] The same year, Butterworth finished filming series 4 of The Last Kingdom in October 2019, which is anticipated to be aired by Netflix on April 26, 2020. On the show, King Alfred is, of course, based on Alfred the great, therefore the show's era is accurate to his … All The Last Kingdom fans are eager to know details of season 5 of the series, but especially about the possible return of actor David Dawson as King Alfred. All the children were educated as Alfred was an ardent advocate of education. The show is an adaption of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of historical novels known as "The Saxon Stories." Eliza Butterworth is an English actress best known for playing Aelswith the wife of King Alfred the Great and mother of King Edward in The Last Kingdom, as Holly in DCI Banks, and as Lucy Hamilton in WPC 56 (TV series) both in 2015. A subreddit for "The Last Kingdom," the BBC/Netflix television show set in medieval England. Aelswith is fiercely loyal and protective of her husband, King Alfred. While Uhtred spends most of Season 1 fighting Alfred’s battles, abandoning his Viking upbringing, and making it with a woman from every kingdom, Alfred’s wife, Queen Aelswith schemes behind the scenes. The Last Kingdom is set in ninth-century England when Alfred the Great ruled Wessex and eventually became King of the Anglo-Saxons. Aethelflaed, The Lady of the Mercians, ruled the prominent English midland kingdom for seven years following the death of Aethelred. Alfred led guerilla attacks on the Vikings and made plans for a huge offensive against Guthrum. I love this time period and will do more posts about this era. She was known as the Lady of the Mercians. King Alfred appeared in the first three seasons of The Last Kingdom and was passionate about uniting the kingdoms of England. Ealhswith was a Mercian princess who married Alfred, Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex. That is a real shame about the town not honoring it’s history. Alfred succeeded his brother Aethelred as King of Wessex in 871. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Burhred sent a message to Alfred and Aethelred, appealing for help in the fight. The attack on the fort was led by Alfred’s son, Edward, as Alfred was still in Wessex dealing with yet another Danish invasion near Exeter in Devonshire. [5] Butterworth sings Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, dances Ballroom, Flamenco and plays Percussion. The cast and characters of The Last Kingdom season four on Netflix, including Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg ... inner circle when Alfred died, as his surviving wife … The show is an adaption of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of historical novels known as "The Saxon Stories." I love that you see the details. [8][9], "Exclusive: The cast of The Last Kingdom talk all about Season 3 & how Netflix will change the show", "Eliza Butterworth - currently filming for the BBC Two four-part thriller THE NORTH WATER,", "The Last Kingdom series 4 : Premier date, cast, trailer, spoilers, recap", "When is The Last Kingdom season 4 released on Netflix? Is this just mythology or was there some truth in it? King Burhred of Mercia was invaded by the “Great Army” of Scandinavians and they had camped out near Nottingham. Cast, trailer and plot", Emptag Hallett Talent Company – Eliza Butterworth, The Last Kingdom video - A Day In The Life with Eliza Butterworth, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eliza_Butterworth&oldid=994267228, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 December 2020, at 21:30. The Last Kingdom (TV Series 2015– ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. We recall that the fourth season of The Last Kingdom, we saw many disputes between the Saxons after Alfred’s death, as her wife Aelswith accepted her loss and the disputes of her children. Ealhswith survived Alfred by three years and died on December 5, 902. [5], In 2020, Butterworth appeared as Heston in the television miniseries The North Water (miniseries) alongside Colin Farrell and Alfred did mention Wantage in his will and he gave it to his wife Ealhswith, suggesting it was a place of great importance to […], Reblogged this on History's Untold Treasures and commented: There was feasting and gift-giving that lasted long into the night. [4] Butterworth then undertook a three-year acting course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and graduated with BA Hons in Acting in 2014. Series The Last Kingdom is preparing for its fifth season, but, remembering the last season of the show, fans expressed their views on one of the characters who died. Thanks for reading. He even allied with Uhtred. The ceremony took place in the royal vill of Sutton Courtenay. She would marry Aethelred of Mercia and became a formidable warrior who fought the Vikings and won. He was the King of the Wessex. The Battle of Eddington was fought in May of 878 and Alfred was victorious. In my hometown of Gainsborough it is only the older generations who really know of Ealhswith. She is a medieval marvel, but – as the daughter of Alfred the Great, and ultimately succeeded by her nephew Æthelstan – Æthelflæd has been overshadowed by the men in her life. Ealhswith or Ealswitha (died 5 December 902) was the wife of King Alfred the Great.Her father was a Mercian nobleman, Æthelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Gaini, which is thought to be an old Mercian tribal group.Her mother was Eadburh, a member of the Mercian royal family, and according to the historian Richard Abels she was a descendant of King Cenwulf of Mercia. What is the plot of The Last Kingdom season four?. Edward finished his father’s project of building the New Minster at Winchester and had his parents relics transferred there when it was completed. Their next child was a son who would be known as Edward the Elder. It was the beginning of an affliction that would last for the rest of his life. It is very interesting. Alfred dies in 899, incredible all is great info, and in Christmas was in January, you know little details when I read I see the small details!!!! Awesome blog. He eventually styled himself as the "King of the Anglo-Saxons", and is driven by a vision for a united Kingdom of all the English (England). All the children were educated as Alfred was an ardent advocate of education. Yes Princess! He merely owned a few estates in the north-east. Asser tells us he was the ealdorman of the Gaini around Gainsborough. To seal the alliance with Mercia, Alfred and Ealhswith were married. In the year 868, Alfred and his brother King Aethelred were campaigning, trying to rid England of the Vikings. No worries about the ramble Glen. Spoilers ahead. [6] Butterworth has also appeared in single episodes in 2015 as Holly in DCI Banks and Lucy Hamilton in WPC 56 (TV series), both in 2015. He also gave her his estate at Eddington, the site of his great victory over Guthrum. Eliza Butterworth is an English actress best known for playing Aelswith the wife of King Alfred the Great and mother of King Edward in The Last Kingdom, as Holly in DCI Banks, and as Lucy Hamilton in WPC 56 (TV series) both in 2015. We know very little about Ealhswith’s life. Sounds like mythology to me Martin. […]. Their last child was a son named Aethelweard, born c. 880. The towns council are not big on history, so any new comers haven’t a clue about it’s ancient history what-so-ever which is very sad!!! I was appalled. In The Last Kingdom, Edward and Aelflaed marry for strategic purposes, to secure his claim to the throne and produce legitimate heirs. She was responsible for the four stages of the foundation: construction of the monastic buildings, assembling the group of nuns to inhabit the Nunnaminster, the appointment of the first abbess who was named Aethelthryth and for the provision of the community’s endowment. Sorry for the ramble…. © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2016 | a division of NBCUniversal International Studios | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy She was never called queen and she never witnessed any charters during Alfred’s administration. ... Alfred was wrong to force Uhtred into taking land in recompense for the huge debt to the church and the crown, but Uhtred was stupid to attack a friendly nation to pay that debt. King Alfred had little control over Cornwall.