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Emma of Normandy (c. 985 – 6 March 1052) was a queen consort of England, Denmark and Norway. She was the daughter of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, and his second wife, Gunnora. Through her marriages to Æthelred the Unready (1002-1016) and Cnut the Great (1017-1035), she became the Queen Consort of England, Denmark, and Norway. She was the mother of three sons, Edward the Confessor, Alfred, and Harthacnut, as well as two daughters, Goda of England, and Gunhilda of Denmark. Even after her husbands' deaths Emma remained in the public eye, and continued to participate actively in politics. As Anne J. Duggan notes, Emma is the "first of the early medieval queens" portrayed visually and she is the central figure within the ''Encomium Emmae Reginae'', a critical source for the history of early 11th-century English politics. == Marriage to Æthelred II == In an attempt to pacify Normandy, King Æthelred of England married Emma in 1002.〔(Simon Keynes, Æthelred II, Oxford Online DNB, 2009 )〕 Viking raids on England were often based in Normandy in the late 10th century, and this marriage was intended to unite against the Viking threat.〔Howard, Ian. ''Harthacnut: The last Danish King of England'', The History Press, 2008, p. 10.〕 Upon their marriage, Emma was given the Anglo-Saxon name of Ælfgifu, which was used for formal and official matters, and became Queen of England. She received properties of her own in Winchester, Rutland, Devonshire, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire, as well as the city of Exeter.〔Honeycutt, p. 41〕 Æthelred and Emma had two sons, Edward the Confessor and Alfred, and a daughter, Goda of England (or Godgifu). When King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark invaded and conquered England in 1013, Emma and her children were sent to Normandy, where Æthelred joined soon after. They returned to England after Sweyn’s death in 1014. Emma and Æthelred’s marriage ended with Æthelred’s death in London in 1016. Æthelred’s oldest son from his first marriage, Æthelstan, had been heir apparent until his death in June 1014. Emma’s sons had been ranked after all of the sons from his first wife, the oldest of whom was Edmund Ironside.〔Barlow, ''Edward the Confessor'', pp. 30-31〕 Emma made an attempt to get her oldest son, Edward, recognized as heir. Although this movement was supported by Æthelred’s chief advisor, Eadric Streona, it was opposed by Edmund Ironside, Æthelred’s second oldest son, and his allies, who eventually revolted against his father. In 1015, Cnut, the son of Sweyn Forkbeard, invaded England. He was held out of London until the deaths of Æthelred and Edmund in April and November 1016, respectively. Queen Emma attempted to maintain Anglo-Saxon control of London until her marriage to Cnut was arranged.〔Howard, pp. 12–5.〕 Some scholars believe that the marriage saved her sons' lives, as Cnut tried to rid himself of rival claimants, but spared their lives.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Emma of Normandy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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