Page 46 - Alfred the Great And His Legacy
P. 46
The Role of Women in Anglo-Saxon Society
• One third of all surviving wills for this period were made on behalf of women.
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Wynflaed, a wealthy noblewoman who lived in the 10 century, left a variety of
possessions in her will, including ”a woman-weaver & a seamstress”. And to her
granddaughter her 2 chests. Best bed-curtain, best tunic & cloak, filigree brooch,
a long tapestry & a cook.
• One book of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles details the conquests of Queen
Aethelflaed. However, women do not appear equally in all forms of surviving
Anglo-Saxon writing. The witness lists of charters are dominated by men.
• But inscriptions on jewellery & similar items are a better source for female
written culture in Anglo-Saxon England.
