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Ealdorman Ludeca

Ealdorman Ludeca was a Mercian nobleman during the early 10th century AD. In 911, as Aethelred II of Mercia lay on his deathbed, Ludeca argued that the ealdormen who had survived the Sack of Aylesbury were too few to pass a decision on the succession, arguing that they should wait until more ealdormen from across Mercia came to Aylesbury in order to vote. King Edward the Elder of Wessex, the overlord of Mercia, saw Ludeca as a potential candidate, but Ludeca was too old to marry Aethelred and Aethelflaed's daughter Aelfwynn, and he proved to be too pro-Mercia for Edward's liking. He grew upset when Edward decided to back Eardwulf for the lordship instead, especially because Eardwulf was disgraced. However, Edward offered to grant Ludeca all of Eardwulf's old lands in exchange for the support of Ludeca and the Witan for Eardwulf's candidacy.

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