Ælfric Cild facts for kids

Ælfric Cild was a rich and important Anglo-Saxon nobleman. He lived around the years 975 to 985. He was a powerful leader, known as an Ealdorman of Mercia, from 983 to 985. He might have been related to the previous ealdorman, Ælfhere.

Ælfric was also connected to Bishop Æthelwold, who was a church reformer. Ælfric helped set up and support Peterborough Abbey and Thorney Abbey by giving them land. This happened in the 970s and early 980s.

Ælfric's Family and Connections

Historians believe Ælfric married the daughter of Ealhhelm. Ealhhelm was an ealdorman, a powerful leader, in central Mercia. This would make Ælfric the brother-in-law of Ælfhere, who was ealdorman before him. His wife's name might have been Æthelflæd.

Her brother, Ælfheah, was also an ealdorman. He wrote a will in the 960s. In it, he left land to Ælfwine, calling him his "sister's son." This Ælfwine was likely Ælfric's son. This same Ælfwine is thought to be a brave warrior. He died fighting in the famous Battle of Maldon in 991. An old poem, The Battle of Maldon, tells his story.

Some old records suggest that Ælfric Cild received land from King Eadwig in 956. The king called him his adoptivus parens. This old Latin phrase means something like "adopted parent" or "guardian." It might mean Ælfric married into a royal family. It could also mean he helped raise the young King Eadwig.

The name Ælfric was common back then. To tell him apart, people called him Cild. This Old English word literally means "child." But it was a special title for important Anglo-Saxon nobles. It showed he was a man of high rank. Ælfric owned a lot of land in Huntingdonshire, in East Anglia. This area was part of the territory of Æthelwine, a rival of Ælfhere.

Ælfric Cild and Bishop Æthelwold

Records about Ælfric's land show he was involved in Bishop Æthelwold's efforts to reform monasteries. One document from 973 talks about Bishop Æthelwold getting land. This land was for setting up Thorney Abbey again. Even though parts of this document might not be completely true, it likely has real information.

The document says Ælfric, who is called a miles (a soldier or knight), sold land at Water Newton to Æthelwold. He sold it for 20 pounds of silver. Ælfric first disagreed with the deal. But he agreed after the bishop gave him more silver (13 pounds) and some land at a place called Ræsen. This might be Market Rasen. Æthelwold also bought part of Yaxley from Ælfric.

Peterborough Abbey was another religious house that Æthelwold helped restart. A list of people who promised support, from when Ælfric was ealdorman (983-985), suggests that Peterborough Abbey also got some of Ælfric's lands.

Ælfric was also seen with Bishop Æthelwold at other times. A book called Liber Eliensis says that King Edgar held a meeting. At this meeting, Bishop Æthelwold bought land at Great Gransden. Ælfhere, Æthelwine, and Ælfric Cild were all there.

According to the same book, Ælfric was with Bishop Æthelwold, the young prince Æthelred, and Queen Ælfthryth. They were doing business at Ely Abbey during the reign of King Edward the Martyr (975-978). This time was remembered as a period when the kingdom's government was messy. Ælfric being there might mean he supported Prince Æthelred's claim to the throne. Bishop Æthelwold was also part of this group.

Ealdorman of Mercia (983-985)

Ælfric was involved with Ælfhere in several local land deals. Between 971 and 980, Ælfric witnessed a document. This document recorded Ælfhere selling land to Ordgar, the abbot of Abingdon. The Liber Eliensis also mentions Ælfhere, Æthelwine, and Ælfric Cild at a local meeting. This meeting happened at Slaughter, Gloucestershire after King Edgar died. They discussed a land dispute at Hatfield.

When Ælfhere died around 983, Ælfric became ealdorman in his place. This was a very powerful job. Under Ælfhere, the ealdorman's power had grown. It covered not only central Mercia but also western Mercia, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.

However, Ælfric did not keep his new position for long. In early 985, a royal council met at Cirencester. Ælfric was forced to leave the country. He was accused of serious wrongdoing against the king. We don't know exactly what the accusation was. But it might have been about him taking land from a wealthy woman named Eadflæd. She might have been Ælfhere's widow. These accusations are mentioned in old royal documents.

One of King Æthelred's documents mentions Ælfric and Bishop Wulfgar of Ramsbury. It says they were greedy and gave the king bad advice. This bad advice supposedly made the king violate the rights of Abingdon Abbey. For example, the abbey should have been able to choose its own abbot. The document claims Ælfric bribed the king to buy the abbacy for his brother, Eadwine. Historians are not sure if this Ælfric was Ælfric Cild or another powerful man named Ælfric, ealdorman of Hampshire.

After 985

We don't know when Ælfric Cild died or what happened to him after he was forced to leave England. A 12th-century book claims he went to Denmark. It says he gathered Viking soldiers and came back to attack England. But this book might have confused Ælfric Cild with the other Ælfric, the ealdorman of Hampshire.

Ælfric's son was likely Ælfwine, who died fighting in the Battle of Maldon in 991. The Maldon poem describes him as a young man. He was part of the personal army of Byrhtnoth, the ealdorman of Essex. Byrhtnoth led the attack against the Viking army and died in the battle. After Byrhtnoth's death, some of his men ran away. But Ælfwine gave a brave speech. He told his fellow warriors to remember their promises to fight bravely. He urged them to get revenge for their lord, even if it seemed impossible. The poem clearly states that Ælfwine was Ælfric's son. He also said he was the grandson of Ealhhelm and a relative of Byrhtnoth.

The next ealdorman known to be in charge of Mercia was Leofwine. He took office in 994. Some historians think that during the time the ealdorman position was empty, a king's official named Æthelsige might have had some role in Mercia.