Ealhflæd (Alhflæd, Elfleda) was a seventh-century Mercian queen and the wife and murderer of

Peada of Mercia Peada (died 656), a son of Penda, was briefly King of southern Mercia after his father's death in November 655The year could be pushed back to 654 if a revised interpretation of Bede's dates is used. and until his own death at the hands of his w ...

. Ealhflæd was the daughter of

Oswiu of Northumbria Oswiu, also known as Oswy or Oswig (; c. 612 – 15 February 670), was King of Bernicia from 642 and of Northumbria from 654 until his death. He is notable for his role at the Synod of Whitby in 664, which ultimately brought the church in Northu ...

. Her mother may have been Rhiaianfellt. According to Bede's ''

Ecclesiastical History Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritual side of the ...

'', the pagan Peada of Mercia asked for Ealhflæd in marriage in the year 653, and Oswiu gave the condition that Peada and his kingdom should convert to Christianity first, which he did. Her brother

Alhfrith Alhfrith or Ealhfrith (c. 630 – c. 664) was King of Deira under his father Oswiu, King of Bernicia, from 655 until sometime after 664. Appointed by Oswiu as a subordinate ruler, Alhfrith apparently clashed with his father over religious policy ...

, who was also Peada's brother-in-law through his sister Cyneburh, was instrumental in Peada's conversion. Bede continues, "that Peada was the next spring 55 ADvery wickedly killed, by the treachery, as is said, of his wife, during the very time of celebrating Easter." The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Liber Eliensis also record that Peada was killed by the betrayal of his wife at Easter 655, although Bede is the only one who supplies the name of the wife. It is believed that an image of Ealhflæd appears on the smaller of the two Sandbach Crosses.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alhflaed 7th-century women Anglo-Saxon royalty Mercian monarchs English regicides Mariticides