Inheritance of Power in Mercia by Princess Aelfwynn

Анотація

42-49.

The period of the early Middle Ages is controversial among scholars, especially with regard to gender studies, which have intensified since the late twentieth century. It is believed that in the Middle Ages women were restricted in their rights and the role of a noble woman was limited to strengthening alliance by contracting dynastic marriage. This was the case with the Carolingians, but the end of the early Middle Ages is also known as the beginning of the Viking’s Age, where women were treated with honor and respect, a woman could rule the odal while her husband was absent, and participate in the campaign. The territories of Britain of 9–10 centuries were constantly attacked by Scandinavians, culminating in the establishment of Danelag (area of Danish law), so England at that time was on the border of two civilizations - Western European and Scandinavian. The Kingdom of Mercia lost part of its territory and bordered on Five Viking burgs, while Wessex was able to maintain independence from the Danes. Thus, in the two Anglo-Saxon kingdoms with common traditions, religion and law, different patterns in the realm of women were formed. In 911, a woman who accompanied her husband for a long time in all his campaigns was recognized as the ruler of Mercia, and the question remains whether she could hand over the reins of power to her daughter. The main purpose of the article was to determine the characteristics of the succession to the throne of the Anglo-Saxons and to analyze the possibility of recognizing this right for a woman on the example of the Mercian Princess Elfwynn. The transition of power to the woman’s heir was not typical of the Anglo-Saxons, which aroused interest in a more thorough study of this issue.

Based on the analysis and comparison of primary sources, as well as historiography, the article considers the basic principles of succession to the Anglo-Saxons in the early Middle Ages and analyzes the possible transfer of power to the heiress, taking into account the recognition of this right by the nobility. The foreign policy processes that influenced the domestic policy of the Kingdom of Mercia and, as a result, were reflected in the position of the ruling elite on the succession to the throne, are considered in the study. The scientific paper provides a deeper understanding of the status and role of women in the political arena of Anglo-Saxon society by determining the level of their involvement in the government of the kingdom.

Key words: Elfwynn, Mercia, witenagemot, Ethelfled, Ethelred ІІ, Edward the Elder, Wessex, Anglo-Saxons, inheritance.