Eanflæd facts for kids

Eanflæd (born April 19, 626 – died after 685), also known as Enfleda, was an important princess and queen in early English history. She was born in the kingdom of Deira and later became the queen of Northumbria. After her husband's death, she became the abbess (leader) of a powerful Christian monastery at Whitby.

Eanflæd was the daughter of King Edwin of Northumbria and Queen Æthelburg of Kent. Her mother was the daughter of King Æthelberht of Kent. Around 642, Eanflæd married King Oswiu of Northumbria. After Oswiu passed away in 670, she went to Whitby Abbey, which had been started by Hilda of Whitby. Eanflæd became the abbess there around 680 and stayed until her death. This monastery was very important to the royal family and helped establish Roman Christianity in England.

Early Life and Royal Family

Eanflæd's mother, Æthelburg, was a Christian. However, her father, King Edwin, followed the old Anglo-Saxon pagan beliefs. He had not yet decided to become Christian when Eanflæd was born on the evening before Easter in 626. This happened at a royal home near the River Derwent.

The historian Bede tells us that on the day Eanflæd was born, an assassin tried to kill King Edwin. After this scary event, Edwin's wife, Æthelburg, and her bishop, Paulinus, convinced Edwin. He agreed to have Eanflæd baptized. He also promised to become a Christian himself if he won a battle against the person who sent the assassin, Cwichelm of Wessex.

Eanflæd was baptized on June 8, 626, which was the feast of Pentecost. Eleven other people from the royal household were baptized with her. King Edwin won his battle against Cwichelm and became a Christian in 627. His rule ended in 633 when he was defeated and died at the battle of Hatfield Chase. After his death, times were difficult. Eanflæd's mother, Æthelburg, and Bishop Paulinus returned to Kent. Eanflæd grew up there, protected by her uncle, King Eadbald of Kent.

Marriage to King Oswiu

In 642, Oswiu, who was the King of Bernicia (a rival part of Northumbria), sent a priest to Kent. He wanted to ask for Eanflæd's hand in marriage. At this time, Eanflæd's cousin, Eorcenberht, ruled Kent.

Oswiu had been married before to a British princess named Rieinmellt. He had just become king after his brother, Oswald, died in the battle of Maserfield. King Penda of Mercia, who won that battle, was very powerful in central Britain. Oswiu needed strong allies. Marrying Eanflæd would bring him support from Kent and possibly from the Franks (people from modern-day France). Any children Oswiu and Eanflæd had would also have a strong claim to rule all of Northumbria. The exact date of their wedding is not known.

Oswiu hoped that marrying Eanflæd would help his rule be accepted peacefully in Deira. However, this plan did not fully work. By 644, Oswine, who was Eanflæd's second cousin on her father's side, was ruling in Deira. In 651, one of Oswiu's generals killed Oswine. To make up for killing his wife's relative, Oswiu founded Gilling Abbey at Gilling. Prayers were said there for both kings.

Children and Important Support

Eanflæd and Oswiu had several children. These include Ecgfrith, Ælfwine, Osthryth, and Ælfflæd. King Oswiu had many marriages and relationships, so it can be tricky to know for sure which child belonged to which mother.

Eanflæd was an early supporter of Wilfrid, an important religious leader. Wilfrid played a big role in Northumbrian politics for many years. When Wilfrid wanted to travel to Rome, Queen Eanflæd recommended him to her cousin, King Eorcenberht of Kent. Eanflæd also strongly supported the Roman way of Christianity.

Life as a Widow and Abbess

Some years after King Oswiu's death, Eanflæd decided to retire to the monastery at Whitby. This monastery had strong ties to her royal family, and many family members were buried there.

In 664, a very important meeting called the Synod of Whitby took place at this monastery. There were disagreements within the Northumbrian church, especially about how to calculate the date of Easter. During this meeting, King Oswiu agreed to follow the Roman method for dating Easter.

Whitby Abbey was a "double monastery." This meant it housed both nuns and monks in separate areas, but they shared the church and religious services. After her relative, Hild, who was the first abbess, died in 680, Eanflæd became abbess. She led the monastery together with her daughter, Ælfflæd.

Eanflæd died during the reign of her stepson, Aldfrith (685–704). During this time, the remains of King Edwin, her father, were reburied at Whitby. Some old records say that Eanflæd's feast day (a day to remember her) is November 24. She was buried at Whitby along with Edwin, Oswiu, Hilda, and later, Ælfflæd. Some people in the 12th century believed her remains were later moved to Glastonbury Abbey.