Year 6 - History
Aethelflaed's forgotten history
The Vikings: how did Viking settlement change Britain?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about how Viking settlement and the Anglo-Saxon response to it led to the making of England. They learn about the roles of Aethelflaed, Aethelred, Edward, and Athelstan and also examine how Aethelflaed's story has only recently received more scholarly attention.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain why Aetheflaed's story has often been forgotten and how in recent years historians have tried to retell it.
Key Notes
- Despite fighting the Vikings and uniting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Aetheflaed's story has often been forgotten.
- One possible reason for this is because her brother Edward wanted to make sure that Mercia stayed loyal to him.
- Edward wanted Mercia to submit to him, and not stay loyal to his sister's memory.
- It is likely that Edward made sure that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentioned a lot about him instead of Aethelflaed.
- Michael Wood is one historian who has tried to tell Aethelflaed's story because it is the story of England's beginning.
Vocabulary To Learn
- loyal: to be loyal means to give or show firm and constant support to a person or place
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a historical document that contains a collection of annals
- annals: annals are a record of events year by year
- prejudice: prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that all leaders are recorded in history.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Despite fighting the Vikings and uniting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Aetheflaed's story has often been forgotten. One possible reason for this is because her brother Edward wanted to make sure that Mercia stayed loyal to him.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'loyal'
to be loyal means to give or show firm and constant support to a person or place.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think that all leaders are recorded in history. Correction: Female leaders, like Aethelflaed, are often written out of history as there was prejudice towards women. Despite Aethelflaed's success and the respect she gained, she was likely erased from history so it did not undermine male leaders at the time.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 History guide library.