Orthryth of Mercia (fl. 7th c.)

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Orthryth of Mercia (fl. 7th c.)

Queen of Mercia. Name variations: she is possiblyOstrith . Born in the late 7th century in Northumbria, England; died in Mercia.

Orthryth was a Saxon princess of Northumbria, England. Her marriage to the king of Mercia was arranged as part of a political liaison between the two small kingdoms, at a time when all of the British isle was divided into competing, warlike tribal kingdoms. But the peace between Northumbria and Mercia did not last long, and soon Queen Orthryth found herself warring, unwillingly, for Mercia against her native people. Orthryth believed in peace, however, and after her husband died she worked unceasingly to effect a truce. She was an intelligent, clever woman; unfortunately, this eventually worked against her, for she was killed by nobles opposed to her peaceful goals.

Laura York , Riverside, California

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