Æðelþryð

Æðelþryð, also known as Etheldreda, was an Anglo-Saxon royal saint and abbess. She was born in the 7th century, likely around 636 AD, as a daughter of King Anna of East Anglia. Her early life was marked by political marriages intended to forge alliances. Her first marriage was to Tondberht, a nobleman of the Gyrwas people. Following Tondberht's death, she was married to Egfrith, who later became King of Northumbria.

Despite her royal status and marriages, Æðelþryð harbored a strong religious inclination. After her second marriage, she is said to have persuaded Egfrith to agree to a life of chastity, leading to the annulment of their marriage. She then dedicated herself to religious life, founding an abbey at Ely in Cambridgeshire. Æðelþryð became the first abbess of this monastery, which grew to become a significant religious center.

Her reputation for piety and miracles led to her veneration as a saint after her death. Her feast day is traditionally celebrated on June 23rd. The abbey at Ely, which she founded, became a prominent monastic institution in Anglo-Saxon England, and Æðelþryð's cult remained strong for centuries, attracting pilgrims and inspiring devotion. Her story is preserved in various historical and hagiographical sources, including the work of the Venerable Bede.