Æthelburh

Æthelburh was an Anglo-Saxon woman who lived in the 7th century. She is known primarily for her role as the wife of King Edwin of Northumbria. Sources for her life are limited and often come from later religious chronicles. She was the daughter of King Æthelfrith of Northumbria and his wife, Acha, who was a princess of the Deiran royal house. This made Æthelburh a significant figure due to the complex political landscape of Northumbria at the time, which was often divided between the Bernician and Deiran kingdoms.

Following her father's death and her uncle Eadfrith's defeat, Æthelburh, along with her brothers, was sent to exile in Mercia. It was during this period that she met and married Edwin. Their marriage was a political alliance, intended to solidify Edwin's claim to the Deiran throne and secure peace between the two regions. She was instrumental in Edwin's conversion to Christianity, following his own conversion and the influence of Paulinus, the bishop sent to Northumbria. Æthelburh was baptized along with her husband and their children. She is sometimes credited with inspiring Edwin's embrace of Christianity. She died before Edwin.