Reign c. 688-726 Name AEthelburg Wessex Spouse Ine of Wessex Predecessor Cynethryth | Died c. 740 (aged 66–67) Role Ine of Wessex\'s wife Successor Frithugyth | |
House House of Wessex (by marriage) People also search for Ine of Wessex, Cenred of Wessex | ||
Queen Æthelburg, (also Æthelburh or Ethelburga) (ca. 673-740) was the wife of King Ine of Wessex. In 722 CE, she destroyed the stronghold of Taunton (which had been built by Ine) in an attempt to find the rebel Ealdbert.
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Life
Æthelburg was born circa 673. She was the wife of King Ine of Wessex. The couple ruled jointly, and Æthelburg is considered by some historians to be one of the few Anglo-Saxon women warriors. In 722, Æthelburg burned down the city of Taunton, a city built by Ine, to avoid its destruction by enemies. In 726 King Ine of Wessex abdicated the throne, and, with Æthelburg, went to Rome.
Legacy
Æthelburg of Wessex is sometimes confused with Æthelburg of Kent, the wife of Edwin of Northumbria, who founded the Lyminge monastery in Kent. Æthelburg is a featured figure on Judy Chicago's installation piece The Dinner Party, being represented as one of the 999 names on the Heritage Floor. In The Dinner Party the character Æthelburg is actually a combination of Æthelburg of Wessex and Æthelburg of Kent.