Eadric, Ealdorman of Wessex facts for kids

Eadric (also spelled Ædric) was an important leader in England during the 900s. He was known as an ealdorman, which was a powerful local ruler, like a governor, in the kingdom of Wessex. Eadric was active from about 942 to 949.

He was the youngest of four sons born to Æthelfrith, who was also an ealdorman in a region called Mercia. His mother was Æthelgyth. From 946 until he died in 949, Eadric was one of the most important ealdormen in all of England. Only his brother, Æthelstan Half-King, held a higher position.

Who Was Eadric?

Eadric was born to Æthelfrith, an ealdorman who governed areas in southern and eastern Mercia. His mother, Æthelgyth, came from a wealthy family that owned land in Buckinghamshire.

Eadric was the youngest of four brothers. His older brothers were Ælfstan, Æthelstan Half-King, and Æthelwold. All four brothers became ealdormen between the years 925 and 950.

Eadric's Brothers and Their Roles

• Ælfstan, the oldest brother, took over his father's ealdordom around 915 when their father passed away. Ælfstan died in 934.
• Æthelstan Half-King became the Ealdorman of East Anglia in 932. His area also included Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, and parts of Lincolnshire.
• Æthelwold was given an ealdordom in 940. He ruled over Kent and nearby counties, including Essex.
• Eadric was the last of the four brothers to become an ealdorman. He started ruling over central Wessex in 942. He took over from a man named Ælfhere.

Eadric's Power and Influence

By about 945, Eadric and his two surviving brothers controlled more than half of the kingdom of England. This shows how powerful their family was!

Eadric's Position in the Kingdom

Starting in 943, Æthelstan was always listed first among the king's ealdormen when important documents were signed. This meant he was the most important ealdorman. Æthelwold was usually listed second. Eadric was listed somewhere between third and sixth, depending on the document.

In 946, Æthelwold passed away. He left some of his land in Sussex and on the Berkshire Downs to Eadric. After Æthelwold's death, Eadric became even more important. He was then listed second only to his brother Æthelstan when royal documents were signed.

Eadric died in 949. After his death, a man named Æthelsige took over as ealdorman.

Eadric's Family Connections

Historians think that Eadric might have been the father of Æthelweard (historian), who was a famous writer. If this is true, Eadric had at least four children: Æthelweard, Ælfweard, Ælfgifu, and Ælfwaru.

This idea comes from the fact that Ælfgifu owned an estate called Risborough. This land had belonged to Eadric's mother, Æthelgyth. Some people also believe that Ælfgifu was Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig, who was a queen. If so, Queen Ælfgifu's mother, Æthelgifu, would have been Eadric's wife.