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Fonthill Letter
The Fonthill Letter is a letter sent by Ordlaf, ealdorman of Wiltshire, to King Edward the Elder (r. 899-924) detailing a property dispute between Ordlaf and Æthelhelm Higa, a rival claimant. While Ordlaf is never explicitly identified as the author, it is apparent due to tenses and position of the speaker throughout the letter. The property in question was five hides of the Fonthill Estate in Ordlaf's county, which Ordlaf had given to the Bishop of Winchester.
It traces the intricate history of the estate's ownership, telling of its former owner Helmstan, Ordlaf's godson, and how the land subsequently passed into Ordlaf's sole ownership after Helmstan's second conviction for stealing a neighbour's oxen.
The letter was intended to be used as evidence in the ongoing lawsuit between Ordlaf and Higa over ownership of the land. Eventually, the letter served its purpose when Higa withdrew from the suit.
While the letter is not dated, it is suggested that the dispute took place from approximately 897-899/901. This indicates that it started during the closing years of King Alfred's rule and the early years of King Edward the Elder. Suggestions that the manuscript that now survives is a later copy has been criticised by Keynes, on the grounds that the text contains two separate scribal hands.
Despite Whitelock's protestations, the text is complex to understand for most modern readers. In an attempt to improve comprehension, Simon Keynes divides the document in 16 separate sections.
Ordlaf, a grandson of a West Saxon ealdorman, was probably appointed ealdorman in the latter years of King Alfred's reign. He is regularly relied upon by Helmstan to support him and pardon him from the crimes he commits.
Helmstan's crimes began with his stealing a belt from Aethelred which initially leads to the dispute as Aethelhelm Higa can then claim the land should be forfeited to him. King Alfred intervenes and grants Helmstan the right to maintain ownership. This did, however, damage Helmstan's standing and his consequent conviction for cattle-stealing was therefore magnified. His criminal history was raised during the second stage of the dispute.
Æthelhelm Higa is seen as the rival claimant. Very little is known about him although it is possible he was a descendant of either Aethelwulf and Aethelthryth or heir of Oswulf. In either case, it seems he believed he should inherit the land by right and thus, following Helmstan's conviction, attempted to claim the estate.
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Fonthill Letter
The Fonthill Letter is a letter sent by Ordlaf, ealdorman of Wiltshire, to King Edward the Elder (r. 899-924) detailing a property dispute between Ordlaf and Æthelhelm Higa, a rival claimant. While Ordlaf is never explicitly identified as the author, it is apparent due to tenses and position of the speaker throughout the letter. The property in question was five hides of the Fonthill Estate in Ordlaf's county, which Ordlaf had given to the Bishop of Winchester.
It traces the intricate history of the estate's ownership, telling of its former owner Helmstan, Ordlaf's godson, and how the land subsequently passed into Ordlaf's sole ownership after Helmstan's second conviction for stealing a neighbour's oxen.
The letter was intended to be used as evidence in the ongoing lawsuit between Ordlaf and Higa over ownership of the land. Eventually, the letter served its purpose when Higa withdrew from the suit.
While the letter is not dated, it is suggested that the dispute took place from approximately 897-899/901. This indicates that it started during the closing years of King Alfred's rule and the early years of King Edward the Elder. Suggestions that the manuscript that now survives is a later copy has been criticised by Keynes, on the grounds that the text contains two separate scribal hands.
Despite Whitelock's protestations, the text is complex to understand for most modern readers. In an attempt to improve comprehension, Simon Keynes divides the document in 16 separate sections.
Ordlaf, a grandson of a West Saxon ealdorman, was probably appointed ealdorman in the latter years of King Alfred's reign. He is regularly relied upon by Helmstan to support him and pardon him from the crimes he commits.
Helmstan's crimes began with his stealing a belt from Aethelred which initially leads to the dispute as Aethelhelm Higa can then claim the land should be forfeited to him. King Alfred intervenes and grants Helmstan the right to maintain ownership. This did, however, damage Helmstan's standing and his consequent conviction for cattle-stealing was therefore magnified. His criminal history was raised during the second stage of the dispute.
Æthelhelm Higa is seen as the rival claimant. Very little is known about him although it is possible he was a descendant of either Aethelwulf and Aethelthryth or heir of Oswulf. In either case, it seems he believed he should inherit the land by right and thus, following Helmstan's conviction, attempted to claim the estate.