Agatha (wife of Edward the Exile) facts for kids

Agatha (born before 1030 – died after 1070) was an important historical figure. She was married to Edward the Exile, who was a possible future king of England. Agatha was also the mother of three famous children: Edgar Ætheling, Saint Margaret of Scotland, and Cristina.

Historians don't know much about where Agatha came from or who her parents were. This has led to a lot of guesses and research over the years!

Agatha's Life Story

We don't know anything about Agatha's early life. Historians believe she was born before 1030 because her children were likely born around 1045.

Agatha came to England in 1057 with her husband and children. Sadly, her husband died soon after they arrived. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror took over England, Agatha and her children had to flee. In 1067, they found safety in Scotland with Malcolm III, who would later marry her daughter Margaret. The last time Agatha is mentioned in historical records is in 1070.

Where Did Agatha Come From?

Historians have tried for a long time to figure out Agatha's family background. Many old writings mention her, but the information is often confusing or even wrong.

Medieval Clues About Her Family

The oldest records, like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, say that Agatha was a relative of "Emperor Henry." Some writings even say she was the daughter of his brother. It's not clear if this was Henry II or Henry III.

Later writings give different ideas:

• Some say she was the daughter of a Hungarian king.
• Others say she was the daughter of King Solomon, but he lived at the same time as Agatha's children, so that's unlikely.
• One source says Agatha's sister was a Queen of Hungary.
• Another says that Edward married a noblewoman while he was living in Kiev (modern-day Ukraine).

Clues from Names

The names used in Agatha's family might also give us hints. Her own name, Agatha, was not common in Western Europe at that time. Also, some of her children's and grandchildren's names, like Cristina, Margaret, Alexander, David, and Mary, were unusual for Western Europe. Some historians think these names came from Agatha's Eastern European background.

German and Hungarian Theories

One popular idea is that Agatha was related to the Holy Roman Emperors. Some historians thought she might be the daughter of Giselle of Bavaria, who was the sister of Emperor Henry II and married to Stephen I of Hungary. This would make Agatha's famous daughter, Saint Margaret, a granddaughter of a saint!

However, this idea has problems. If Agatha was Stephen's daughter, her children would have had a strong claim to the Hungarian throne, but there's no sign they ever tried to claim it. Also, if she was related to Henry II, she would have been much older than her husband, which seems unlikely.

Another theory suggests Agatha was the daughter of Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia, who was the half-brother of Emperor Henry III. This idea was popular for a while.

Kievan (Ukrainian) Theory

Many historians now believe Agatha came from Kievan Rus' (an old kingdom in what is now Ukraine). This theory is supported by several points:

• Some old writings say Agatha's sister was a Queen of Hungary. Edward the Exile lived in Kiev for many years and was friends with Andrew I of Hungary, whose wife, Anastasia, was a daughter of Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev. This suggests Edward's wife, Agatha, could have been another daughter of Yaroslav.
• This fits with writings that say Edward married a "noblewoman" or a "Rus king's" daughter while in Kiev.
• The name Agatha itself was common in the Byzantine Empire and the Kievan Rus' royal family.
• The unusual names of Agatha's children and grandchildren (Margaret, Cristina, David, Alexander) also fit with names found in the Kievan royal family. For example, David was the Christian name of Yaroslav's brother, who became a saint.

This 11th-century painting shows the daughters of Yaroslav I, a ruler of Kievan Rus'. One of them might have been Agatha's sister.

One interesting point from this theory is that Agatha's children, like Edgar and Saint Margaret, would have been cousins of Philip I of France. It's strange that medieval writers never mentioned such an important connection.

Bulgarian Theory

More recently, a new idea suggests Agatha might have been from Bulgaria. This theory looks closely at the name Agatha, which was rare. It points to Agatha Chryselia, who was married to Samuel of Bulgaria. This theory tries to connect Agatha to both Hungarian and Bulgarian royal families, explaining why some sources mention Hungary.

Other Ideas

Some historians have suggested other possibilities:

• Agatha might have been related to a German Count Cristinus, which could explain her daughter's name, Cristina.
• It's also possible that Edward the Exile married more than once, and the confusing records are mixing up different wives.
• A Polish theory suggests Agatha was the daughter of Mieszko II Lambert of Poland. This would connect her to both German Emperors and a Hungarian queen.

Historians continue to research and debate Agatha's true origins, as it remains one of the big mysteries of medieval history!

See also

In Spanish: Ágata (esposa de Eduardo el Exiliado) para niños