The Ethelfleda Necklace

Description

Sterling silver in a 1/2 and 1/2 Byzantine chainmaille weave encasing a richly hued faceted lemon quartz.

The watch is a stainless steel quartz movement watch and will be fitted with a brand new battery before it is shipped.

The chain is a 20" shown currently as a 2mm cable chain with a spring ring clasp. I reserve the right to substitute it with a 2mm sterling silver rolo chain with a lobster clasp if the cable chain is unavailable at the time of purchase.

Length of focal : 4.5"

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Story of Ethelfleda

Aethelflaed (alternatively spelt Ethelfled or Ethelfleda) a.k.a. the "Lady of the Mercians", was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and Ealhswith, wife of Aethelred, ealdorman of Mercia, and after his death, ruler of Mercia (an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what's now central England) between 911–918.

While her husband was alive, she signed agreements, leading some to think that she was the real leader. On her husband's death in 911 after the Battle of Tettenhall, she was elevated to the status of "Lady of the Mercians". This title was not a nominal position; she was a formidable military leader and tactician.

Aethelflaed ruled for approximately eight years (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) from the newly fortified capital at Stafford. It is also likely that the English county of Staffordshire first came into being during her reign. She fortified her existing borders and re-took Derby. She died at Tamworth in 918, and was buried at St Peter's Church (now St Oswald's priory) in Gloucester, which city (Gloucester) she had reconstructed from Roman ruins, and laid out the core street plan, which is still in existence today. When Aethelflaed wasn't building fortresses (she built over a half-dozen of them), she was terrorizing the Vikings. Yes, Vikings. A great lady, and not someone to trifle with.

Added on Oct 16, 2009