caption dynasty death_date predecessor successor religion imagesize title image article_title name reign
` the top of this list -rrb- in the '' anglian alfƿald collection '' aldƿulfing ' , as recorded -lrb- at wuffingas 749 ealdwulf of east anglia beonna and alberht and possibly hun christian 50px king of the east angles east anglian tally -lrb- textus roffensis -rrb- . png Ælfwald of east anglia
 Ælfwald 713 to 749
Ælfwald of east anglia

Ælfwald -lrb- old english : `` alfƿold '' , `` elf-ruler , '' reigned from 713 to 749 -rrb- was an 8th-century king of east anglia , an anglo-saxon kingdom that today includes the english counties of norfolk and suffolk .
the last king of the wuffingas dynasty , Ælfwald succeeded his father ealdwulf , who had ruled for forty-nine years .
Ælfwald himself ruled for thirty-six years .
their combined reigns , with barely any record of external military action or internal dynastic strife , represent a long period of peaceful stability for the east angles .
in Ælfwald 's time , this was probably owing to a number of factors , including the settled nature of east anglian ecclesiastical affairs and the prosperity brought through rhineland commerce with the east anglian port of gipeswic -lrb- modern ipswich -rrb- .
the coinage of anglo-saxon sceattas expanded in Ælfwald 's time : evidence of east anglian mints , markets , and industry are suggested where concentrations of such coins have been discovered .
after returning from exile , Æthelbald of mercia succeeded coelred and afterwards endowed the church at crowland .
Ælfwald 's friendly stance towards Æthelbald helped to maintain peaceful relations with his more powerful neighbour .
the `` life of guthlac '' , which includes information about Æthelbald during his period of exile at crowland , is dedicated to Ælfwald .
later versions of the `` life '' reveal the high quality of written old english produced in east anglia during Ælfwald 's reign .
he was a literate and devoutly christian king : his letter written to boniface in around 747 reveals his diplomatic skills and gives a rare glimpse into the life of a ruler who is otherwise shrouded in obscurity .
