Æthelstan Ætheling

Æthelstan Ætheling (Old English: Æþelstan Æþeling) was the eldest son of King Æthelred the Unready by his first wife Ælfgifu and almost certainly the apparent heir to the kingdom until his death.

Æthelstan was a "warrior prince" and by his death he had accumulated a large collection of swords, prized war horses and combat equipment. It is likely that he had died by the close of 1012 as his name no longer appears on royal charters. His will, apparently drawn up while he was dying, was witnessed by Bishop Ælfsige (II) of Winchester. As Ælfsige was not consecrated in this See until between 1012 and 1014, the evidence again suggests Æthelstan's death was around 1012.

The prince's will remains intact to this day. To his brother, Edmund Ironside, he gave his most prized possession, a sword which is said to have once belonged to Offa of Mercia. Edmund also received some of Æthelstan's estates and pieces of his war gear. To his other brother, Eadwig Ætheling, the Prince gave another piece from his large weapon collection, a silver-hilted sword. Much of Æthelstan's remaining land and wealth was divided between churches, friends and servants. He made special provision for 2 of his entourage, a sword-sharpener and a stag huntsman.

While he mentions his father, grandmother and foster-mother, his own mother is completely omitted from the will. He also makes no mention of his stepmother or stepbrothers, showing a clear division within the royal family at the time.

Sources

• Anglo-Saxon will: S 1503 (AD 1014)
• Barlow, Frank. Edward the Confessor. Berkeley (CA), 1970.

See also

• House of Wessex family tree
• "Æthelstan 62 (Male)." Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England.