Biographies
Biographies
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Biographies of lesser people starting with A

The people listed on this page currently have less information so do not warrant a page of their own. As this website evolves and more information is added these people will be promoted to individual pages.

Fantasy image of Adelard (of Bath)
Adelard (of Bath)
Fantasy image of Aelfgifu (of Northampton)
Aelfgifu (of Northampton)
Fantasy image of Aelfheah (Archbishop of Canterbury)
Aelfheah (Archbishop of Canterbury)
Fantasy image of Aelred (of Rievaulx)
Aelred (of Rievaulx)
Fantasy image of Aethelred (of Mercia)
Aethelred (of Mercia)
Fantasy image of Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine)
Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine)

Please note: Portraits on this page are not intented to be accurate depictions of the individuals.

Adelard (of Bath)

Born: circa 1090 Died: circa 1160

Born in the late eleventh century, he studied and taught in France before going to Spain to learn Arabic. This allowed him to translate the Elements of Euclid, a series of books written by the Greek mathematician Euclid. Adelard travelled to Africa and Greece (learning the language) and Asia Minor. When he returned to England in England in 1130 he wrote several books on scientific information.

Aelfgifu (of Northampton)

Born: circa 990 Died: 1040

Aelfgifu was the consort of Canute. They had two sons, Swein Alfivason (also known as Swein Knutsson) and Harold Harefoot. Although Canute married Emma of Normandy in 1017, Aelfgifu remained an important person and was made regent of Norway in 1030 when Canute removed Olaf Haraldson from power. Through misrule and attempts to take too much power, both Aelfgifu and Swein were expelled from Norway in 1034 or 1035. After Canute's death in 1035, Aelfgifu supported her other son, Harald Harefoot, in his bid to become the English king.

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1030    (Age: 40yrs)

Aelfgifu became regent of Norway ruling in place of her son Swein who had been appointed king of Norway by Canute after the defeat of Olaf Haraldson.

 

Family Tree Details

 Aelfgifu (of Northampton) (b.990? - d.1040)
    +Canute (King of England 1016-1035) (b.995? - d.1035)
        = Swein
        = Harold (Harefoot, King of England 1037-1040) (b.1015? - d.1040)
 Aelfgifu (of Northampton) (b.990? - d.1040)
    +Canute (King of England 1016-1035) (b.995? - d.1035)
        = Swein
        = Harold (Harefoot, King of England 1037-1040) (b.1015? - d.1040)

Aelfheah (Archbishop of Canterbury)

Born: circa 954 Died: 1012

Aelfheah became Bishop of Winchester in 984 and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006. In 994, the English king, Aethelred The Unready sent the bishop to negotiate peace with the Viking Olaf Tryggvason who had invaded England. Aelfheah was successful in converting Olaf to Christianity and getting an agreement that further invasions would stop in exchange for a payment (Danegeld). In 1011 the Vikings captured Canterbury and took Aelfheah hostage. Aelfheah refused anyone to pay the ransom and in a drunken rage the Vikings murdered him. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. Aelfheah was later canonised in 1078 by the Pope.

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    994    (Age: 40yrs)

    Through the Winter months Aethelred provided the Vikings with lodgings and £16,000 in cash to stop the raids on his land. Aethelred was also the sponsor at the baptism of Olaf Trygvasson. Olaf was given instruction from the Aelfheah Bishop of Winchester. ¹

    1006    (Age: 52yrs)

    Aefheah, formerly the bishop of Winchester became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

    1011    (Age: 57yrs)

    The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of £48,000. In a drunken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. ¹

    Aella, (King of Northumbria 866-7)

    Died: 21 March 867

    Aella (Aelle) became king of Northumbria after the city of York fell to the Great Army of the Vikings. The previous king, Osberht was removed from power by the Northumbrians after York was captured and replaced by Aella. The two kings put aside their differences to mount a joint attack on York in an attempt to drive the Danes out, but even though they gained access to the city the pair were killed and the attack failed.

    Timeline

    866

    The Danes led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivar the boneless and Halfdan, attacked Northumbria and York. They wanted revenge for the death of their father who had been killed by Aella, the King of Northumbria. (Aella could have been an Irish Prince.) The Danes destroyed many churches and monasteries including Whitby Abbey. The monasteries remained ruined for two hundred years. (This may be a legend as Aella was supposedly killed at York)

    867

    Armies from Northumbria led by the two kings Aella and Osberht attacked the Danes at York but were defeated. The two kings were killed after gaining access to the city. After the battle the Danes moved south attacking Nottingham and taking control of it. The king of Mercia asked Ethelred and Alfred for assistance and an army from Wessex was sent to help. ¹

    Aelred (of Rievaulx)

    Born: 1109 Died: 1166

    elred was an English historian and was born in Hexham in Northumbria. He was a steward to King David of Scotland before becoming a monk at Rievaulx Abbey. At Rievaulx he devoted himself to writing historical works. He became the Abbot at Rievaulx Abbey.

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    Aethelred (of Mercia)

    Born: circa 855 Died: 911

    ethelred of Mercia married Edward the Elder's sister Aethelfead and assisted Edward the Elder in battles against the Danes. After Aethelred's death in 911 Aethelfead ruled Mercia in her own right and together with her brother continued the fight against the Danes and Danelaw until her death in 918.

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    886    (Age: 31yrs)

    Aethelflaed, the daughter of Alfred the Great married Aethelred of Mercia.

     

    Family Tree Details

     Aethelred (of Mercia) (b.855? - d.911)
        +Aethelflaed (Lady of the Mercians) (b.869? - d.918)
     Aethelred (of Mercia) (b.855? - d.911)
        +Aethelflaed (Lady of the Mercians) (b.869? - d.918)

    Aethelwold (Bishop of Winchester)

    Died: 984

    Aethelwold became Bishop of Winchester in 963 and together with Archbishop Dunstan began the reform of monastic practices. The pair were supported by King Edgar and were able to push through many reforms. The purpose of the reforms was to put an end to the decline of monastic life which had been caused by the many Viking raids and the preference of secular clergy. Unlike Dunstan who preferred a more tactful approach Aethelwold's methods of reform were very dramatic including removing those who would not take the full monastic vows and baning wives from the monasteries. After reforms were put in place in Abingdon, Winchester and the south east, the bishop toured England pushing through his demands and restoring monasteries that had been abandoned during the Viking attacks. One of these was Ely that had been destroyed by the Danes. Aethelwold established the Benedictine rule at the abbey.

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    963

    Aethelwold becomes Bishop of Winchester.

    970

    As part of his reform of monastic life, Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester bought the lands of the Isle of Ely and installed Benedictine monks on the site.

    Agnes (of France)

    Born: 1171 Died: circa 1220

    Agnes was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and his third wife Adela of Champagne. At the very young age of eight a marriage was arranged for her to marry the son of the Emporer of Constantinople, Alexius. She travelled to Constantinople in 1179 where large wedding festivities were held. Within a year Alexius became Emporer at the age of thirteen when his father died. Alexius was too young ro rule unaided and in 1183 was murdered by another family member, Andronicus, who took advantage of the situation to rule himself. Although Andronicus was in his sixties he forced Agnes to be his wife. Agnes was made twice a widow when, in 1185, Andronicus himself was killed when he too was disposed. Agnes, still a young girl of sixteen, found protection under a Greek called Theodore Branas, a general of the Byzantine Empire, who she married. Agnes' date of death is not known.

     

    Family Tree Details

    Father:Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
    Mother:Adela (of Champagne) (b.1145? - d.1206)
     Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)
     Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)

    Alexander (IV, Pope {y:1254}-{y:1261})

    Born: circa 1199 Died: 1261

    Alexander IV was the Pope from 1254 until his death in 1261. He agreed to absolve King Henry III of England from the Provisions of Oxford and allow the English king to regain the power that the Barons had taken from him.

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      1254    (Age: 55yrs)
      1261    (Age: 62yrs)

      Pope Alexander IV agreed to absolve King Henry III from the Provisions of Oxford. ¹

      Urban IV was elected Pope after the death of Pope Alexander IV.

      Alfonso (Son of Edward I)

      Born: November 1273 Died: 19 August 1284

      Alfonso was the son of King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile and born in Gascony. Both of his elder brothers had died at an early age and for a short time Alfonso was heir to the English throne. At the age of ten a marriage was arranged for him to the daughter of the Count of Florence, but he dies before the wedding could take place.

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      1284    (Age: 11yrs)

      At the time of his death, Alfonso was heir to the English throne as he was the eldest surviving son of King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, but at the age of just ten at Windsor Castle he died. This left his four month-old younger brother, Edward, as heir.

       

      Family Tree Details

      Father:Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307) (b.1239 - d.1307)
      Mother:Eleanor (of Castile) (b.1241 - d.1290)
       Alfonso (Son of Edward I) (b.1273 - d.1284)
       Alfonso (Son of Edward I) (b.1273 - d.1284)

      Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine)

      Born: 1150 Died: 1198

      Alice (Alix) was the second daughter of King Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

       

      Family Tree Details

      Father:Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
      Mother:Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
       Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
       Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)

      Amalric (I, King of Jerusalem, 1162 - 1174)

      Born: 1136 Died: 11 July 1174

      on of Fulk V, count of Anjou and King of Jerusalem. Amalric became King of Jerusalem after the death of his elder brother Baldwin.

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      1162    (Age: 26yrs)

      Baldwin, the king of Jerusalem died. He was succeeded by his brother Amalric. ¹

       

      Family Tree Details

      Father:Fulk (V, of Anjou) (b.1092 - d.1143)
      Mother:Melisende (of Jerusalem) (b.1105? - d.1161)
       Amalric (I, King of Jerusalem, 1162 - 1174) (b.1136 - d.1174)
          +Comnena, Maria (b.1154 - )
       Amalric (I, King of Jerusalem, 1162 - 1174) (b.1136 - d.1174)
          +Comnena, Maria (b.1154 - )

      Ansgard (of Burgundy)

      Died: 890

      nsgard was the first wife of King Louis II of France. They married in secret before Louis became king but the marriage was repudiated in 878 when the King of France found out about it. Louis remarried but Ansgard ensured that her sons would remain heirs to the throne of France and after the death of Louis her sons became Louis III and Carloman II, joint rulers of the country.

       

      Family Tree Details

       Ansgard (of Burgundy) ( - d.890)
          +Louis (II, the Stammerer) (b.846 - d.879)
              = Louis (III, King of France 879-882) ( - d.882)
              = Carloman (II, King of France 879-884) ( - d.884)
       Ansgard (of Burgundy) ( - d.890)
          +Louis (II, the Stammerer) (b.846 - d.879)
              = Louis (III, King of France 879-882) ( - d.882)
              = Carloman (II, King of France 879-884) ( - d.884)

      Athelbald (King of Wessex 858-860)

      Died: 860

      ing of Wessex from 858 until he died in 860. First (or second if Athelstan was a son) of Aethelwolf.

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        858

        Unhappy with his father's marriage to Judith and absence from the country, Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's second son claimed the kingdom of Wessex for himself. When Ethelwulf later died, Ethelbald married Judith, his stepmother. ¹

        860

        Upon the death of his elder brother, Ethelbert became the King of Wessex. ¹

         

        Family Tree Details

        Father:Aethelwulf (King of Wessex 839-858) (b.795? - d.858)
        Mother:Osburga
         Athelbald (King of Wessex 858-860) ( - d.860)
         Athelbald (King of Wessex 858-860) ( - d.860)

        Selection of references used:

        • 1. Magnus Magnusson, Vikings!
        • 2. Ronald McNair Scott, Alfred the Great, ISBN:0-86332-832-6
        • 3. H.W.C.Davis, England under the Normans and Angevins, 1949
        • 4. Zoe Oldenbourg, The Crusades

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