Alfred Aetheling was a member of the House of Wessex. He was the son of King Aethelred the Unready by his second wife Emma of Normandy, and brother of King Edward the Confessor. He was murdered by Earl Godwin in 1037.
Contents
Alfred Aetheling Family Tree Image
Alfred Aetheling Family Tree in Table Form
Alfred Aetheling Short Biography
Alfred Aetheling Family Tree Image showing:
grandparents, parents, siblings and half-siblings
Alfred Aetheling Family Tree in Table Form showing:
grandparents, parents, siblings and half-siblings
GRANDPARENTS
Paternal Grandfather – King Edgar – (943 – 975)
Paternal Grandmother – Aelfthryth of Devon – (945 – 1000)
Maternal Grandfather – Richard Duke of Normandy – (933 – 996)
Maternal Grandmother – Gunnora of Normandy – (c950 – 1031)
SIBLINGS
King Edward the Confessor – (1003 – 1066)
Godgifu of Boulogne – (1004 – 1047)
HALF SIBLINGS
from his father’s first marriage
Aethelstan – (985 – 1014)
King Edmund Ironside – (990 – 1016)
Edgar – (d. 1012)
Eadred – (d. 1012)
Eadwig – (d. 1017)
Ecgberht – (d. 1005)
Edgyth of Mercia – (995 – 1022)
Aelfgifu of Northumbria – (997 – 1042)
Wulfhilda – (998 – 1042)
from his mother’s second marriage
King Harthacnut – (1018 – 1042)
Gunhilda of Germany – (1020 – 1038)
MARRIED
Did not marry
CHILDREN
No children
GRANDCHILDREN
No grandchildren
Aelfred Aetheling Short Biography
Alfred Aetheling was born in 1005, the second son of King Aethelred the Unready by his second wife, Emma of Normandy. The family fled to Normandy in December 1013 after Sweyn Forkbeard seized the English throne. After the death of Forkbeard in February 1014, the Witan refused to accept Forkbeard’s son, Canute, as King and asked Aethelred to return as King.
King Aethelred the Unready died on 23rd April 1016 and his eldest son by his first wife, Edmund Ironside, became King. When he died later that year, Canute seized the throne. Alfred, his brother Edward and sister Godgifu were sent to Normandy where they were cared for by Emma of Normandy’s family. Emma remained in England and married Canute. They had a son, Harthacnut and a daughter Gunhilda.
Canute died on 12th November 1035 and the throne passed to Harthacnut. However, he was unable to leave Denmark and Harold Harefoot, Canute’s son by his first wife made a successful play for the throne assisted by Earl Godwin.
In late 1036, Alfred and his brother Edward, planned to invade England and remove Harold Harefoot from the throne. They sailed across the Channel, each with a retinue of men. Edward landed near Southampton while Alfred landed in Dover. Alfred was met by Earl Godwin who escorted him and his men to Guildford. Sometime later, Alfred was seized and taken to the Isle of Ely where he was blinded. It is unclear whether Earl Godwin was acting independently or on the orders of Harold Harefoot.
Alfred died of his injuries on 5th February 1037.
Published Aug 31, 2024 – Updated – Dec 4 2024
Harvard Reference for Alfred Aetheling Family Tree:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2024 – 2025). Alfred Aetheling Family Tree & Biography (1005-1037). Available: https://www.treesofblue.com/alfred-aetheling-1005-1037. Last accessed May 21st, 2025