Who was Edla the medieval Slavic woman?
Edla lived during the Viking Age spanning the 10th and 11th centuries. Tradition holds she was the daughter of a Lechitic tribal chief who ruled lands between the Oder and Elbe rivers.
Questions about Edla
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Edla become a prisoner of war?
Historical records place her capture as a prisoner of war between 995 and 1000. She arrived in Sweden before Estrid of the Obotrites came to the kingdom.
What children did Edla bear with King Olof Skötkonung?
Edla bore Emund Astrid and likely Holmfrid while remaining outside the formal marriage bond. These three figures shaped political alliances across Scandinavia through their respective roles as king queen and wife of Sven Ladejarl.
Why were Edla's children sent away from the royal court?
Snorre Sturlasson wrote that Queen Estrid treated them unkindly and they were sent away to foster parents. The decision to remove them from the royal court suggests deep hostility and may indicate that Edla died while her children were still young.
Which books document the life of Edla today?
Åke Ohlmarks wrote about all queens of Sweden including her story. Lars O. Lagerqvist detailed rulers over 1,000 years in his book published by Albert Bonniers Förlag AB in 1982.