Aethelflaed and the Missing Trophy (Book for English Learners)
Page 5
At this point it seemed as if the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms would be defeated by the Vikings. However that same Easter, after sending out messengers, Alfred was able to gather support from across the land and defeat the Danish Vikings. The threat was not completely over, and there were more attacks, particularly in the county of Kent, but the tide had changed. Alfred had built the foundation of a stable and independent country, becoming the most important monarch of the British Isles.
So if someday you visit the old English capital Winchester, be sure to stop and take a photo of the statue of Alfred the Great!
Aethelflaed
Statue of Aethelflaed in Tamworth
Any person expecting their first child has to start thinking of names – Joanne? Sarah? Elisabeth? Mary?
But you have to remember that Alfred (Alfred in the story, not Alfred the Great) was a keen historian. What better name could he give to his daughter than Aethelflaed? She was the first child of Alfred the Great, the 'Lady of the Mercians', and one of the England's very few female monarchs before the sixteenth century.
It is not known when she was born, but almost certainly it was in the period of instability, when her father was fighting the Vikings for the survival of his kingdom. At an early age Aethelflaed married Aethelred, Lord of the Mercians. Mercia was a kingdom that extended from modern-day Manchester/Liverpool to London.
There are many reasons to suppose that she was much more than a quiet and obedient wife. Historians believe that it was her decision to repair the walls of the city of Chester (near Manchester), and to build more fortresses.
When King Aethelred died in battle in 911, the council named Aethelflaed 'Lady of the Mercians', and she remained their leader. Her reign was short, due to her death a few years later, but she was an important military leader during that time. She continued to build a number of fortresses, and it is thought that only with her help was her brother Edward the Elder able to defeat the remaining Vikings in the south of England.
She died in 918, just as the city of York was preparing to give the city to her in return for protection against Vikings from Ireland.
During her reign, her brother Edward's son - Athelstan – was brought up in her court. In Tamworth, where she was buried, there is a statue of Aethelflaed where she is protecting ner nephew, who was to be the first King of England.
Athelstan
A portrait of King Athelstan.
When Alfred (Alfred of Davingstock, not Alfred the Great) had a son, it would have been more logical to call him Edward. Edward was Alfred the Great's son, and Aethelflaed's brother. It would have also been a more normal name in modern England.
But Athelstan was the first king of a united England, and although he has not been given 'the Great' as a suffix, probably deserves it. He is a more important historical figure than Edward.
As heir to both his aunt and father, Athelstan was ruler of the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924. He was then able to complete Aethelflaed's work, conquering the Viking-held York in 927 and ruling the whole of England, and so became King of the English until his death in 939.
An alliance between the Vikings and the Scottish was the greatest threat to Athelstan's rule, but he defeated them in a final battle, where we are told that five kings were killed, as well as the son of King Constantine II of Scotland.
According to texts, Athelstan was the first ruler to set up national assemblies, which many historians have seen as a form of primitive parliament. Athelstan also set up churches and encouraged learning.
A legal code was established in the town of Faversham, in Kent, which reflected his concern for religious matters, and his worries about robberies and lawlessness inside his kingdom.
He never married and had no children. When he died the crown passed to his half-brother, Edmund. From this period on the Scottish began to gain more power and influence. Finally, in 1066, England was invaded by the Normans, and the time of the Anglo-Saxon kings was over.
Comprehension Questions.
1.The original inhabitants of England are called B________
2.The Anglo-Saxons came from an area we now know as G______
3.Although King Alfred existed, the story of the burnt cakes is a l____
4.Although Alfred defeated the Vikings, his kingdom was still t_____ by them.
5. Aethelflaed became ruler as the wife, and when he died, the w_____ of Athelred, Lord of the Mercians.
6.Due to her unexpected death, Aethelflaed's r_______ was short.
7.Athelstan was Alfred's g_________.
8.Athelstan defeated an a________of five kings.
9.Athelstan died c_______.
10. Athelstan h______ his brother named successor after his death.
All the answers to the activities and exercises: profesornativogratis.com/9585-2/
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
It's no wonder that when Aethelstan suspected Ayaan of stealing the trophy, neither Aethelflaed nor Samantha or Natalia could believe that he would do such a thing.
Ayaan's volunteer work for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has automatically gained him a place as one of Davingstock's most respected young citizens. More than 600 RNLI lifeguards have lost their lives out to sea, and Ayaan puts his life at risk every time he answers the call to the lifeboat or helicopter. What's more, as the RNLI is a charity Ayaan does not get paid for his work.
It is estimated that 140,000 lives have been saved since the RNLI was founded in 1860. In 2015, to cite one example, 22 people were rescued per day. The RNLI also played an important role in both world wars, including the evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk in France.
It is not just a case going out to sea and saving lives – volunteers need to be willing to dedicate hours of their free time in training and preparation. This is after going through a nine-month training process and 12-month trial period.
Luckily, there are a lot more men and women like Ayaan – 31,500 in fact, manning the boats and helicopters, managing the lifeboat stations, organising fundraising events and teaching young people how to stay safe in the water.