Law / Trial by Ordeal / Emma
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Law / Trial by Ordeal / Emma
Emma ( - 1052) aka Aelfgifu, widow of Cnut, proves her innocence by walking over red-hot plow- shares. Tried by Ordeal at Winchester
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Media ID 594138
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10045710
1035 1052 Cnut Emma Innocence L Aw Ordeal Plow Proves Shares Trial Widow Winchester Aelfgifu
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from the annals of medieval history, we witness the moment of truth for Emma, the widow of King Cnut, as she undergoes the ordeal by plow-shares at Winchester in the year 1052. This trial by ordeal was a common practice during the Middle Ages, used to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person, particularly in cases where the evidence was not conclusive. Emma, also known as Aelfgifu, was a woman of noble birth and had been married to King Cnut, the Danish monarch who ruled over England from 1016 until his death in 1035. Following Cnut's passing, Emma married Leofric, Earl of Mercia, but rumors of treachery and adultery began to circulate, leading to her being accused of poisoning her second husband. To prove her innocence, Emma submitted herself to the ordeal by plow-shares. The process involved walking barefoot over red-hot plow-shares, which had been heated in a fire. If the accused person emerged unscathed, it was taken as a sign of their innocence, as the belief was that God would protect the innocent from harm. In this powerful image, Emma is depicted with a determined expression on her face as she takes the first steps towards the plow-shares. The flames are depicted in vivid detail, casting an eerie glow over the scene. The onlookers, including members of the clergy and nobility, watch intently, their faces a mixture of anticipation, fear, and awe. Despite the risks involved, Emma emerged unscathed from the ordeal, her faith in God and her innocence vindicated. This image serves as a reminder of the extraordinary trials and tribulations that individuals in medieval Europe were willing to endure in the pursuit of justice and the proof of their innocence.
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