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Lying under under our feet for more than 1,000 years, a royal palace in Gloucester could be discovered once again.

When marauding Vikings were baying for blood at our shores the palace was the seat of power for one very remarkable woman.

Managing to evade a Viking abduction on her wedding day and fending off hordes of invading Berserkers, Aetheflaed used the palace in Kingsholm as her base to save Gloucester from devastation.

Known as the Lady of Mercia, Aethelflaed brought together a kingdom and helped lay the foundations for a united England.

Hundreds of years later as the city of Gloucester prepares to remember Aethelflaed , her palace at St Oswald’s Priory will come to life once again.

And you can play a starring role in this re-enactment.

This year sees the 1,100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed.

People from across Gloucester can help experts unearth the palace in Kingsholm this Saturday May 26 when a geological survey is held at St Oswold’s Priory.

On top of that organisers are looking for a “tall and flaxen haired” woman to play the part of Aethelflaed when a funeral procession is held in the city on Saturday June 9.

There will be another opportunity to try your hand at archaeology at the Anglo-Saxon encampment at St Oswald’s Priory on Saturday 9 June.

People can see what life was like back in the Dark Ages of the tenth century when an encampment hosting specially commissioned music, drama and spoken word performances inspired by Aethelflaed is held at St Oswald’s Priory.

Aethel-who?

Nowadays she could be seen as a real-life Daenerys Targaryen – the Queen of Dragons in the HBO Game of Thrones series who fights to reclaim her throne – but historians say Aethelflaed is more than that.

Born in 870 AD, the British Isles were under invasion from Vikings and her father Alfred the Great was struggling to fend of the marauding armies from Scandinavia.

In her youth she and her family had to flee the royal palace at Chippenham and fight refuge in the Somerset marshes.

In order to secure an alliance and fend off the Vikings Alfred arranged a marriage between his daughter Aetheflaed and Aethelred, King of Mercia, who would have been much older than she was.

Her dowry was the city of London but she before she could even tie the knot she had to fend off Vikings attempting to kidnap her before then.

She strengthened the fortifications of Gloucester, laying out the streets plans of Gloucester as know it now with the four gate streets in the city centre and walls around them.

Her prowess on the battlefield was legendary – while fighting Vikings who had invaded Cheshire from Ireland she marshalled the townsfolk to throw whatever they could find to fend off the invaders.

She would eventually reclaim Derby and Leicester for Mercia too.

The remains of St Oswald were reclaimed from Northumbria by her father, and were laid next to her husband after he died in 911.

She then turned Gloucester into a minster and when she died in Tamworth she was buried alongside her husband at St Oswald’s Priory.

(Image: Marketing Gloucester)

Why is the palace important?

Aethelflaed ruled from the Anglo Saxon Palace in Kingsholm, she built St Oswald’s Priory to house the sacred relics of one of England’s most devoutly Christian kings and she was buried beneath the same building.

The Anglo-Saxon palace in Kingsholm was partially excavated in 1972 (the Kingsholm Court area) but it would have been used by royalty for generations, beyond when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066.

Aethelstan, Aethelflaed’s nephew, the first true king of England would later die at the royal palace in 939. It would also have been used by Kings Edmund Ironside, Harthacnut, Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror.

Andrew Armstrong, city archaeologist at Gloucester City Council, said: “Excavations in 1972 found fascinating evidence for late Saxon halls which we think formed part of a large palace complex extending throughout the northwest of Kingsholm.

“We don’t know for sure, but it seems likely that the palace was in use during Aethelflaed’s time.

“We’re hoping as part of this survey to identify the location of the 1972 excavation and to plot the locations of any further buildings in the surrounding area.

“Volunteers will learn about how geophysical survey works in theory and will then help undertake the survey.”

Gloucester City Councillor Paul James (C, Longlevens), leader of Gloucester City Council , said: “This is a wonderful, hands-on opportunity for people of Gloucester to get involved with our rich history. It would be very exciting if members of the public can help us find the layout of the royal palace complex this weekend.”

I’m hooked – how can I get involved?

There will be an opportunity to try your hand at archaeology at the Anglo-Saxon encampment at St Oswald’s Priory on Saturday June 9.

People can see what life was like in the tenth century and the encampment will host specially commissioned music, drama and spoken word performances inspired by Aethelflaed.

Free Saxon Tours of Gloucester to help set the scene and a special exhibition will be held at the Museum of Gloucester over the summer.

On Tuesday June 12, Gloucester Cathedral will hold a special evensong dedicated to Aethelflaed on the actual anniversary.

It’s free to participate but you do need to book tickets from the Gloucester ticket shop website: https://www.gloucesterticketshop.co.uk/en-GB/shows/kingsholm%20volunteer%20geophysical%20survey/events

The entire programme of events can be found at www.aethelflaed2018.co.uk .

(Image: Marketing Gloucester)

I want to play the part of the Queen? How can I do that?

On Saturday June 9, the city will witness an Anglo-Saxon inspired funeral procession, where Aethelflaed’s body will be carried on a boat and met on the North Quay of Gloucester Docks by her retinue before being carried through the ancient streets she laid out, to her final resting place at St Oswald’s Priory.

Organisers are looking for someone to play the part.

Jason Smith chief executive of Marketing Gloucester said: “Following the huge success of the Henry III reenactment in 2016 we are looking forward to similar success with the commemoration of Aethelflaed one of the most important women in English History.

“It promises to be a really interesting spectacle and great fun.”

They suggest looking at images of the young Aethelflaed portrayed by actress Millie Brady in the joint BBC/Netflix epic The Last Kingdom based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell.

There is also a stained-glass window depicting her in St Andrews Church in Churchdown and a statue of her with a young Aethelstan outside Tamworth Castle.

To be considered for the role of Aethelflaed or to nominate someone, send in a photo and complete the application form to be received by this Friday May 25. Forms can be requested by emailing info@marketinggloucester.co.uk – or collected from the Tourist Information Centre, Southgate Street.

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