What is emma of normandy?

Emma of Normandy (c. 985 – 6 March 1052) was a powerful and influential figure in 11th-century Anglo-Saxon England and Normandy. She played a significant role in the political landscape of the time through her marriages and her own ambition.

• Early Life and Family: <br> Emma was the daughter of Richard I, Duke of Normandy and his second wife, Gunnor. Her family held considerable power and influence in Normandy.

• Marriage to Æthelred the Unready: <br> Emma married Æthelred%20the%20Unready, the King of England, in 1002. This marriage was primarily a political alliance aimed at solidifying relations between England and Normandy, particularly in the face of Viking raids. She was given the Anglo-Saxon name Ælfgifu upon her marriage. She bore Æthelred two sons, Edward%20the%20Confessor and Alfred Ætheling, and a daughter, Godgifu.

• Exile and Return: <br> During Sweyn Forkbeard's invasion of England, Emma fled to Normandy with her children. After Æthelred's death, and Sweyn's short reign, she and her children were invited back to England when Æthelred's son, Edmund Ironside, briefly ruled before his death.

• Marriage to Cnut the Great: <br> Following Æthelred's death and the subsequent death of his son Edmund, Emma married Cnut%20the%20Great in 1017. This marriage further cemented Norman influence in England and helped secure Cnut's position as King. They had a son, Harthacnut, and possibly a daughter, Gunhilda of Denmark.

• Political Influence: <br> Emma wielded considerable political influence during the reigns of both Æthelred and Cnut. She actively participated in royal affairs and often acted as a regent during her husbands' absences. She was a patron of the church and actively promoted Norman interests in England.

• Reign of Harthacnut and Beyond: <br> After Cnut's death, Emma played a key role in attempting to secure the throne for her son, Harthacnut. After Harthacnut's death, her son with Æthelred, Edward the Confessor, became king.

• Later Life and Death: <br> Emma remained a powerful figure at court even during Edward's reign, though her influence waned somewhat. She died in 1052 and was buried in Winchester.

• Legacy: <br> Emma of Normandy's life was marked by political intrigue, ambition, and a determination to protect the interests of her family. She was a pivotal figure in the complex political landscape of England and Normandy during a period of significant transition and change. She is featured in the Encomium Emmae Reginae, a work commissioned in her honor.