Royal Favour
According to Florence of Worcester, Eadric was of non-noble birth but advanced to high dignity through the favour of the English King Ethelred the Unready. William of Malmesbury describes Eadric Streona as "the refuse of mankind and a reproach unto the English". Parentages advanced for Eadric are Wulfric Spot (which would make Aelfhelm of York whom he assassinated, his own uncle) or Aethelric, Ealdorman of Mercia who was his predecessor as Ealdorman. Since he was sacked in disgrace (due to betraying naval secrets to the Danes) and his son Aelfgar blinded, this is very unlikely. His brother was Brihtric (aka "Beorhtric").
In 1007, he became Ealdorman of the Mercians, and subsequently married Ethelred's daughter Eadgyth. As Ealdorman, Eadric achieved a victory over the Welsh, for reasons unknown to history. (See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). He is described by Sir Frank Stenton as someone "to whom unknown crimes may be safely attributed". He appears to have endeared himself to Ethelred II — to whom he was (on the whole) loyal — by arranging the assassinations of his internal opponents.
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