The Agojie Warrior: An African Queen

"How do people like us take off their armor?"

"One piece at a time"

FIRST PHOTO OF MY JUDE WITH HER GOLDEN ARMOR AND ON A HORSE I AM ACTUALLY SCREAMING

That shoot was a dream coming true and required so much work in crafting location scouting renting the horse etc

I really hope you'll like and embrace this cosplay

She was the eldest child of Alfred the Great, born in the midst of a violent war to rid the Vikings from Saxon lands. She was given the same education as her brothers, and the crisis of war that surrounded her childhood would have taught her about the reality of her country. The women of Mercia often had more administrative power in court than the women of Wessex, so Aethelflaed would have been allowed power alongside her husband.

After the death of her husband, Aethelred, in 911, she became the sole ruler of the Saxon kingdom of Mercia. She never remarried most likely to preserve her rule over Mercia.

After she became the ruler of Mercia, Aethelflaed turned to her brother, Edward the Elder, King of Wessex. They both shared the idea that uniting the Saxons would be the only way to drive the Vikings from their land and unite the kingdoms.

In 917, Aethelflaed struck the five boroughs and was successful in taking back the Viking stronghold that was Derby. In 918, the Vikings of Leicester found themselves isolated and surrendered themselves to Aethelflaed and Mercia without a fight despite their previously aggressive nature. Also in 918, Aethelflaed reached the river Humber and persuaded the city of York to swear allegiance to her.

Aethelflaed passed away on 12th June 918 (coincidentally my birthday) in Tamworth, England, aged around 48, before she could ever reach York. After her death she passed her power to her only child and daughter, Aelfwynn, however she was soon ousted by Edward the Elder.

Why do we never hear about Aethelflaed in English history?