Ælfgar, earl of Mercia

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

(probable) Date of Death: 1062.

This date is given by Williams (ODNB).

Relationships

Father: Leofric, earl of Mercia (died 1057).

This relationship is given by Williams (ODNB). It is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (C,D, s.a. 1055; D, E, s.a. 1057), and in “Vita Æduuardi Regis” (line 441). In the list of witnesses to the will of Thurstan, son of Wine, Ælfgar is called “Alfger þe Erles sune”.

Mother: Godgifu (probably died 10 September, 1067).

This relationship is given by Williams (ODNB). “Lady Godiva.” Nothing certain is known of her origins.

Spouse: Ælfgifu.

This relationship is given by Williams (ODNB). Williams states that she was “probably a kinswoman of Cnut’s first wife, Ælgifu of Northampton.” In her ODNB article on Leofric, Williams states that Ælfgifu was probably the daughter of Morcar and Ealdgyth.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Edwin (died 1071). Earl of Mercia.

Morcar (fl. 1065 - 1087). Earl of Northumbria.

Ealdgyth married (1) Gruffudd ap Llywelyn; married (2) Harold Godwineson.

Burgheard.

References

“Ælfgar 46” on the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England website.

Aird, William M. “Morcar, earl of Northumbria (fl. 1065 - 1087)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

“Vita Æduuardi Regis qui apud Westmonasterium Requiescit” in Lives of Edward the Confessor (Henry Richards Luard, ed.) (London: 1858) Rolls Series.

Maund, K.L. “Ealdgyth (fl. c.1057-1066)” 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)

“S 1531” on Anglo-Saxons.net

Williams, Ann. “Ælfgar, earl of Mercia (d. 1062?)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Williams, Ann. “Godgifu (d. 1067?)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).

Williams, Ann. “Leofric, earl of Mercia (d. 1057)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).