Saint Wulthryth

Wulfthryth, also known as Wilfrida (died c. 1000), was the second known consort of Edgar, King of England, in the early 960s. Historians disagree whether she was his wife or mistress. In 964, Edgar married Ælfthryth, and then or earlier Wulfthryth returned to Wilton Abbey, where she had been educated. She was accompanied by her daughter Edith, who was widely revered in the eleventh century as a saint. Wulfthryth remained there for the rest of her life as abbess and died on 21 September in an unknown year, around 1000. She was regarded as a saint at Wilton, but her cult did not spread more widely. Wulfthryth is known to history through several sources, including the hagiography of the Secgan Manuscript, John of Worcester's Chronicle, William of Malmesbury, Osburn's life of Dunstan, the Life of St Wulfthryth found in The Wilton Chronicle, A Royal Charter of King Edgar to Wulfthryth, and the Vita Edithae by Goscelin. The medieval source record her as living an exemplary life of sanctity and virtue, and her virtues were often contrasted to the machinations of Edgar's second (third?) wife, Ælfthryth. Wulfthryth was an English noblewoman, a younger cousin of Wulfhild, born about 937, whom King Edgar of England carried off from the nunnery at Wilton Abbey and took to his residence at Kemsing, near Sevenoaks. While in Kent, Wulfthryth gave birth to a daughter, Edith. Goscelin and William of Malmesbury agree that Edgar married her, but that she renounced their marriage shortly after Edith was born. Edith was dedicated into religious life at Wilton as an infant; her mother followed her shortly afterwards. After at least a year, Wulfthryth returned to Wilton Abbey, taking Edith with her. She later became head of the abbey and outlived her daughter.