| Notes |
- Ælfgar (died c. 1060) was the son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, by his famous mother Godgifu (Lady Godiva). He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on the latter's death in 1057. He gained the additional title of Earl of East Anglia, but also was exiled for a time.
Ælfgar married Aelfgify, sister of William Malet, Lord of Eye.
They had 4 children:
- Burgheard, died returning from Rome 1060, buried at Reims
- Edwin, Earl of Mercia
- Morcar, Earl of Northumbria
- Ealdgyth, married (1st) Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, King of Wales (2nd) Harold Godwinson, King of England.
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from www.geni.com
Ælfgar
Also Known As: "Algar III Earl of Mercia", "Aelfgar", "Alfagar of Mercia"
Birthdate: circa 1002 (57)
Birthplace: Mercia, England
Death: between 1059 and 1063 (53-65)
Mercia, England
Place of Burial: Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Immediate Family:
Son of Leofric III, earl of Mercia and Lady Godiva
Husband of Ælfgifu
Father of Ealdgyth; Eadwyne, Duke of Mercia; Morcar, Earl of Northumbria and Burgheard
Occupation: Earl of East Anglia and Mercia, Earl of Mercia, King of Mercia
Aelfgar, Earl (d 1062), was the son of Leofric of Mercia and his wife Godgifu, the 'Lady Godiva' of legend. Bitter jealousy existed between the ancient Mercian house and the new and successful family of Godwine. When, in 1051, Godwine and his sons gathered their forces against the king and his foreign favourites, Aelfgar and Leofric were among the party which stood by Eadward at Gloucester, and on the outlawry of Harold his earldom of East Anglia was given to Aelfgar. The new earl ruled well, and the next year, on the restoration of Godwine's house, cheerfully surrendered the government to Harold. On the death of Godwine in 1053, the West Saxon earldom was given to Harold, and East Anglia was again committed to Aelfgar. In 1055, at the Witenagemont held in London, Aelfgar was accused of treason, and was outlawed 'for little or no fault at all,' according to all the Chronicle writers, save one. The Canterbury writer, however, who was a strong partisan of Harold, says that Aelfgar owned his guilt, though he did so unawares. He fled to Ireland and engaged eighteen ships of the Northmen. He crossed to Wales and made alliance with Gruffydd of North Wales. With Gruffydd and a large host of Welshmen, Aelfgar and his Norse mercenaries invaded Herefordshire. Ralph, the king's nephew, the earl of the shire, met the invaders with an army composed both of Frenchmen and English. He foolishly compelled his English force to go to battle on horseback, contrary to their custom. He and his Frenchmen fled first, and the battle was lost. Aelfgar and his allies entered Hereford. They sacked and burnt the minster and the city, slaying some and taking many captive. To check this invasion the whole force of the kingdom was gathered under Earl Harold and Aelfgar and his allies were chased into South Wales. In 1055 Aelfgar made peace with Harold, was reconciled to the king and restored to his earldom. On the death of Leofric, in 1057, Aelfgar received his father's earldom of Mercia. The position of his new earldom as regards Wales and Ireland encouraged his restlessness, and the weakness and instability of King Eadward the Confessor made rebellion no serious matter. It was probably while the only force capable of maintaining order in the kingdom was removed by the pilgrimage of Harold, that Aelfgar was, in 1058, outlawed for the second time. His old allies were ready to help him. Gruffydd and a fleet of the Northmen, which seems to have been cruising about on the look-out for employment, enabled him to set his outlawry at defiance and to retain his earldom with the strong hand. IN one good deed Aelfgar and Harold acted together. On the surrender of the see of Worcester by Archbishop Aldred in 1062, both the earls joined in recommending Wulfstan for the bishopric. Soon afterwards, probably in the same year, Aelfgar died. His wife's name was Aelfigifu. He left two sons, Eadwine and Morkere, who played a conspicuous part in English history. A charter of the abbey of ST Remigius at Rheims records that Aelfgar gave Lapley to that house for the good of the soul of a son of his named Burchard, who was buried there. His daughter, Aldgyth, married her father's ally Gruffydd, and, after the deaths of Aelfgar and Gruffydd, married as her second husband Harold, her father's old enemy. [Dictionary of National Biography I:148-149]
Aelfgar, of age 1051, d. shortly after 1062, Earl of East Anglia 1053, Earl of Mercia 1057, banished 1058; m. Aelfgifu, by whom 3 known sons: Eadwine, Morkere, and Burchard, whose issue are unknown, and a daughter Aldgyth [as well as Edith or Aldgyth]. [Ancestral Roots, Line 176a-3]
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Earl of East Anglia 1053; Earl of Mercia 1057.
From Gen-Med Archives, June 19, 1999; author: Leo van de Pas:
"In 1055, he was forced to seek the protection of Gruffyd in Wales, in that year Gruffyd and Alfgar burned down St.Aethelbert's minster and all the town of Hereford. In 1058 Alfgar, without having given reason, was outlawed, and went to Ireland and Wales where he got himself a great band and then travelled to Hereford. After a violent battle Alfgar was reinstated and given back all that had earlier been taken from him."
Bet. 1051-1052 in East Anglia, Norfolk, England; When the Godwins were exiled from England in 1051 Ælfgar was given the Earldom of East Anglia, which had been that of Harold Godwinson. When Harold returned in 1052, the property was restored to him..
Apr 1053; Harold became Earl of Wessex after his fathers death April 1053, and the earldom of East Anglia returned to Ælfgar.
1058; Ælfgar was exiled by King Edward in 1055 but was reinstated later the same year.
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1002 - 1062 (59 years)
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