Contrary to popular belief, Anglo-Saxon England had queens, with the
tenth-century Elfrida being the most powerful and notorious of them all.
She was the first woman to be crowned Queen of England, sharing her
husband King Edgar's imperial coronation at Bath in 973. The couple made
a love match, with claims that they plotted the death of her first
husband to ensure that she was free. Edgar divorced his second wife, a
former nun, after conducting an adulterous affair with Elfrida, leading
to an enmity between the two women that lasted until their deaths.
During her marriage Elfrida claimed to be the king's only legitimate
wife, but she failed to secure the succession for her son, Ethelred.
Elfrida was implicated in the murder of her stepson, King Edward the
Martyr, who died on a visit to her at Corfe Castle. She then ruled
England on behalf of her young son for six years before he expelled her
from court. Elfrida was eventually able to return to court but, since he
proved himself unable to counter the Viking attacks, she may have come
to regret winning the crown for Ethelred the Unready. Wife, mother,
murderer, ruler, crowned queen. The life of Queen Elfrida was filled
with drama as she rose to become the most powerful woman in Anglo-Saxon
England.