Æthelmær the Stout facts for kids

Æthelmær the Stout (also known as Æthelmær the Fat) was an important leader in England around the year 1000. He was a powerful noble called a thegn and served King Æthelred the Unready. For a short time in 1013, he was even an ealdorman, which was like a governor of a large area. Æthelmær was known for starting two important monasteries: Cerne Abbey and Eynsham Abbey. He also supported a famous scholar named Ælfric of Eynsham. His father was Æthelweard the historian, and his family was related to King Æthelred I. Æthelmær died in the year 1015.

Æthelmær's Career

Supporting Monasteries and Scholars

Æthelmær was a big supporter of the church, just like his father. In 987, he helped start or restart Cerne Abbey in Dorset. Later, in 1005, he founded Eynsham Abbey in Oxfordshire. He made his friend, the famous scholar Ælfric of Eynsham, the first abbot (head) of Eynsham Abbey. Ælfric even dedicated one of his important books, Lives of the Saints, to Æthelmær. Æthelmær also helped with the Priory of Bruton in Somerset.

A Trusted Royal Advisor

In 993, King Æthelred II wrote an important document. In it, the King admitted to making mistakes when he was younger. He said this was partly due to his own inexperience and partly because some of his advisors were greedy. However, King Æthelred praised Æthelmær as a loyal advisor. From the mid-990s, Æthelmær's name often appeared first on lists of important officials who witnessed royal documents. This shows he was a very trusted person in the King's court.

Changes in Power

After Æthelmær's father, Æthelweard, died in 998, no new ealdorman was immediately chosen for the Western Provinces. Both Æthelmær and another noble named Ordulf were strong candidates for the job.

However, after 1006, a powerful and sometimes tricky person named Eadric Streona became more important than Æthelmær and other leading nobles. Some of these nobles faced serious problems during this time. For example, one noble, Wulfheah, was blinded after Eadric murdered his father. Another, Wulfgeat, lost all his lands. It's thought that the Æthelmær who continued to sign royal documents after 1006 might have been a different person with the same name.

Becoming an Ealdorman

By 1013, Æthelmær had clearly regained his important position. He became the ealdorman of the Western Provinces, the same role his father had held. In that year, a Danish invader named Sweyn Forkbeard arrived in England. Sweyn set up camp in Bath. Æthelmær and his followers decided to surrender to Sweyn. Æthelmær died two years later, in 1015.

Æthelmær's Family

Æthelmær had several children. One of his sons, Æthelnoth, became a very important church leader: the Archbishop of Canterbury. Another son, named Æthelweard, was killed in 1017 by King Cnut. A son-in-law, also named Æthelweard, was sent away from England in 1020.