Siward, earl of Northumbria

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: before mid-Lent, 1055.

Place of Death: York.

The date and place are given by Aird (ODNB).

Place of Burial: the monastery at “Galmanho”.

The place is given by Aird (ODNB).

Relationships

Father: unknown.

Mother: unknown.

Siward’s name (Sigvarthr) suggests that his ancestry was Danish (Aird, ODNB). Siward was said by a 12-century legend to be descended from a white bear.

Spouse: Ælfflæd.

This relationship is given by Aird (ODNB).

Spouse: Godgifu (died before 1055).

This relationship is given by Aird (ODNB).

Children (by Ælfflæd):

Osbeorn (killed in battle 27 July 1054).

Waltheof (about 1050 - executed 31 May 1076). Became earl of Northumbria. Married Judith.

References

Aird, William M. “Siward, earl of Northumbria (d. 1055)” in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Lewis, C.P. “Waltheof, earl of Northumbria (c. 1050 - 1076)” in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Plummer, Charles (ed.) Two of the Saxon Chronicles Parallel: A Revised Text (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1892-1899).

“Siweard 11” on the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England website. [accessed 11 June 2014]