Crossword Genius

Female communist made king of England (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ethelred

'king of england' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'female communist' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'ethel' (I've seen this before).
'communist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean communist).
'ethel'+'red'='ETHELRED'

'made' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ethelred that I've seen before include "Unready monarch" , "ancient King" , ""Unready" English king" , "King of England" , "Early English king" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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