The twelfth-century account of the events surrounding the battle of Maldon established a myth which helped to separate secular and ecclesiastical responsibilities. From an Ely perspective lay benefactors donated estates in exchange for prayers, burial and other religious services carried out by the monks, but monastic power was not to be applied to the furthering of secular agendas. Although Byrhtnoth was killed in 991 at Maldon while campaigning against the Vikings, the reality of his historical relationships with the community at Ely does not square with the Liber Eliensis’ account. The arising task is threefold: first, to establish the nature of the actual relationship linking Ealdorman Byrhtnoth with Ely Abbey; second, the character of the ties forged between Byrhtnoth's descendants and Ely Abbey; and third, the dynasty's wider interests within the region during the second quarter of the eleventh century. These discussions lead into an unexpected area in explaining the changes in European society during the tenth and eleventh centuries; namely the formation of lineage identity. Generally the latter has been linked to the emergence of more militaristic values, but in fact rituals associated with prayers for the dead may have played a no less important role in the formation of a lineage identity. Before exploring this theme, however, the historical relationship between the Ely community, Ealdorman Byrhtnoth and his kindred needs to be clarified and differentiated from the perspectives put forward in the Ely version of the Maldon myth.