Æaldgyth

Æaldgyth was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who lived in the 11th century. Information about her life is primarily found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. She is notable for her landholdings, which were considerable for a woman of her time.

Æaldgyth was the wife of Wulfstan, a prominent landowner in Warwickshire. Following Wulfstan's death, Æaldgyth retained control of a significant portion of their combined estates. The Domesday Book records her as holding lands in various manors, including those around Tamworth and Kingsbury. These holdings indicate her status as a person of considerable wealth and influence within the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy.

Her husband, Wulfstan, is also mentioned in the Domesday Book, and it is clear that Æaldgyth inherited substantial property from him. The fact that she is named and her possessions detailed in such a crucial administrative document underscores her importance. The precise details of her life beyond her land ownership are scarce, but her presence in the Domesday Book offers a glimpse into the lives of powerful women in post-Conquest England.