Ethelreda (daughter of Gospatric)

Ethelreda
Queen of Alba
Spouse	Duncan II, Waltheof son of Gimellin
Issue	William fitz Duncan
Father	Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria

Ethelreda was a daughter of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria remembered in 13th century Cumberland as the mother of William fitz Duncan. She married Duncan II of Scotland, King of Alba. A surviving charter of Duncan II mentions William fitz Duncan as "infans mei" (Latin: my child), indicating that he was an only child. Ethelreda was Queen Consort of Alba from the time of their marriage (1090/1093) until Duncan's death on 12 November 1094. After Duncan was killed by Mormaer Máel Petair of Mearns, it is probable that Ethelreda fled with infant William to the safety of Allerdale in Cumberland where her brother Waltheof of Allerdale was lord. The Chronicon Cumbriæ reports that Waltheof granted lands jointly to his sister Ethelreda and a Waltheof, son of Gimellin, who would be a second husband, and that some of Waltheof of Allerdale's lands would eventually be held by Ethreda's son William fitz Duncan.

References

• William M. Aird, "Gospatric, earl of Northumbria (d. 1073x5)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , retrieved 13 Feb 2009
• A. A. M. Duncan, "Duncan II (b. before 1072, d. 1094)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , retrieved 13 Feb 2009
• James Wilson, ed., The Register of the Priory of St. Bees, Surtees Society, 1915, pp. 491–5 [1]