There are lots of fascinating figures being profiled at TeamQueens.org, a site run by some of the most accomplished historians in queenship studies. Team Queens puts the spotlight on queens from all kinds of eras and locations, but I was surprised that no one had yet written an article about Emma of Normandy. I inquired about contributing a piece on Emma and am thrilled to see it published on Team Queens. My article is a general overview of Emma’s life and political career that aims to highlight her remarkable ability to survive even the most hopeless situations. The deaths of both husbands, multiple exiles, multiple conquests, hostile children and step-children – you name it, Emma survived it, sometimes coming back stronger than before.
She was one of the most important figures of early English history, living through the reigns of seven kings, and was closely involved in royal politics for nearly half a century. Emma became an anointed queen in 1002 when she married King Æthelred II of England. After Æthelred’s death in 1016 and the subsequent downfall of the English dynasty, Emma married England’s conqueror, Cnut of Denmark. A long period of influence, stability, and prosperity followed for Emma, who ranked highly in Cnut’s reign (1016-1035). In the political upheaval following Cnut’s death, Emma found herself at the center of rumors, exiles, murders, and more. Some of her hardships were due to misfortune, while others may have been her own doing, but Emma always managed to persevere.
Love her or loathe her, there is no denying her importance and resourcefulness. I consider her the single most fascinating queen of pre-Norman England. Read all about it by checking out the article.
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On a side note: I am currently taking a break from social media (Facebook and Twitter), but to those of you who continue to share my work on those platforms, I’d like to say a big thank you! Just because I’m taking a social media detox doesn’t mean I don’t want my work shared there – on the contrary, I’m thrilled whenever social media enables something I’ve written to reach a wider audience.
I may reappear on Facebook sporadically, but for now, the best place to get in touch with me is here on this blog or on academia.edu, but please do share anything to social media if you think others will enjoy it. My site analytics allow me to see what is shared where, and I really do appreciate it.
Brandon M. Bender 