Esobert
Esobert was a Saxon child resident of Wincestre who lived during the 9th century.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Esobert was likely born in the city of Wincestre, where he grew up. Sometime in the 870s, he developed an intense crush on Princess Æthelflæd, daughter to King Alfred of Wessex and Lady Ealhswith. One day, he climbed an observation tower in an attempt to retrieve flowers from a nearby tree to give to the girl. This stunt attracted shocked bystanders, including several children, Æthelflæd, her mother, and the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir.[1]
After the shieldmaiden helped Esobert retrieve the flowers, he gave them to Æthelflæd, declaring that he would become a king and that Æthelflæd would be his queen. Ealhswith humored his confession, saying the two would need to wait until they were both adults and had Alfred's approval to marry, before she and her daughter took their leave.[1]