GAINI

The Gaini tribe were established at present-day Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire on the River Trent, by the time of King Alfred, though it was apparently not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles until 1013. Gainsborough is taken from Gains Burgh meaning a fortified settlement of the Gaini. Gainsborough was only a small hamlet, whereas 5 miles upstream was the much larger hamlet of Torksey, mentioned in the Chronicles much earlier, in 873, and which had 213 burgesses at the time of the Domesday Survey.

44. [MUCE231] Esne was an ealdorman in the late 8th and early 9th centuries.

43. [MUCE241] Mucel (son of Esne) was an ealdorman variously mentioned c.814-40.

42. [MUCE251] Aethelred [=noble counsel] (believed to be son of Mucel), was also known as Mucel or Mucil or Aethelred Mucel. He was ealdorman [sub-king, later jarl or earl] of the Gaini, who resided at Gainsborough Castle, within the Five Boroughs. He married [PEND173] Edburga (daughter of King Coenwulf of Mercia, see MERCIA KINGDOM). Aethelred was variously mentioned c.840-68.

41. [MUCE262] Ealhswith/Elhswitha (born c.852, daughter of Aethelred) married (at Winchester, 868) [WESK301] King Alfred the great (see ANGLO-SAXON KINGS).

40. [MUCE261] Aethelwulf aka Athulf (son of Aethelred Mucel), Ealdorman in Mercia, died 901.

There was a Charter (889, now lost) in which Ealdorman Athulf, "a descendant of King Coenwulf", refers to the villages of Upton-upon-Severn and nearby Welland (Worcs) as belonging to Coenwulf's inheritance.

39. [MUCE272] Aethelgyth (daughter of Ealdorman Aethelwulf), held land in Bucks, married [SEMC281] Ealdorman Aethelfrith (see SOUTH EAST MERCIA).