Ealdgyth (wife of Edmund Ironside)

Ealdgyth was the wife of Edmund Ironside, King of England in 1016. Her origins are somewhat obscure and subject to varying interpretations by historians. Some sources suggest she was of East Anglian origin, while others propose she had connections to the Welsh marches.

Ealdgyth's marriage to Edmund Ironside likely occurred during the reign of his father, Æthelred the Unready, possibly as a strategic alliance to bolster Edmund's position. After Edmund's death in November 1016, Ealdgyth disappears from the historical record. It is believed that she remarried, potentially to a Danish nobleman, or perhaps entered a religious life. There is little definitive information about her later life or descendants. Sources mention the existence of at least one son, likely named Edmund, from her marriage to Edmund Ironside; his fate, like his mother's, remains largely unknown. The historical record concerning Ealdgyth is sparse, relying heavily on chronicles which often provide limited personal details about royal consorts.