1. SIWARD- Earl of Northumbria

m.1. Godgifu
2. AELFFLAED, d. of Ealdred, Earl of Bernicia
d. 1055

Siward or Sigurd Digri (the stout) was one the the nobles who came to England from Denmark with King Cnut and became Earl of Northumbria.

"The Stories of the ancients tell us that Ursus (a certain nobleman whom the Lord, contrary to what normally happens in human procreation, allowed to be created from a white bear as a father and a noblewoman as a mother), begot Spratlingus; Spratlingus begot Ulfius; and Ulfius begot Bjorn, who was nicknamed Beresune, that is, "Bear's Son". This Beorn was Danish by race, a distinguished earl and famous soldier. As a sign, however, that due to part of his ancestry he was of a different species, nature had given him the ears of his father's line, namely those of a bear. In all other features he was of his mother's appearance. And after many manly deeds and military adventures, he begot a son, a tried imitator of his father's strength and military skill. His name was Siward, nicknamed Diere, that is, the Stout (grossus)".(1)

Siward passed by Orkney where he killed a dragon and then went to Northumbria where he fought another dragon. He meets an old man there who gives him a raven banner and tells him to go to London the receive the patronage of the English King:

"[A]fter a short conversation the king took him [Siward] into his service, and promised him the first position of dignity which became vacant in his realm. After that Siward said farewell, and he and his men took the way back to London. On the bridge not far from the monastery [Westminster] he met the Earl of Huntingdon, Tosti, a Dane by birth; the king hated him because he had married Earl Godwine's daughter, sister to the queen. The earl crossed the foot-bridge so near Siward that he soiled his mantle with his dirty feet; for at that time it was fashionable to wear a mantle without any cord by which to hold it up. Then blood rushed to his heart; yet he checked himself from taking revenge on the spot, because the shame was inflicted upon him by one who was on his way to the king's hall. But he remained standing with his men by the same bridge until Tosti came from the king; then he drew his sword and hacked off Tosti's head, and went with it under his mantle back to the king's hall. Here he asked, according to his promise, to give him the earldom of Huntingdon. But as the earl had just left him, the king thought he was only joking. Then Siward related his deed, and, as sure proof, cast the head down before the king's feet. The king then kept his promise, and proclaimed him at once earl of Huntingdon ... A few days later, the Northmen began to attack the realm. The king then was in a state of uncertainty, and deliberated with the great men of his realm as to what means should be adopted; and they made over with one voice Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland to Earl Siward, and the king invested him with earldom over them".(1)

Siward was definately in England by 1033, however, he may have been there as early as 1019 as there are charters who mention a Sigeward Minister and thegn Siward, however, it is not clear if this referred to our Siward.(2)

The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" states that Eadulf, Earl of Bamburgh was betrayed by King Harthacnut in 1041 which was carried out by Siward. The "Libellus de Exordio" states that Siward attacked and killed Eadulf.(3) Because of this Siward became the Earl of all of Northumbria.

After King Harthacnut's death in 1042, Siward became a supporter of Edward the Confessor and on 16 Nov. 1043 Siward, Earl Godwine of Wessex and Earl Leofric of Mercia, went with King Edward on an expedition against Queen Emma and took her huge treasury.(4)

In 1051 Siward, Earl Leofric, and Earl Ralph the Timid, defended King Edward against the rebellion of Earl Godwine and his sons with Godwine being exiled temporarily. He returned to England in 1052.(5)

Siward brought Northampton under his control in the 1040's, Huntingdon in the 1050's as well as Cumberland. He obtained land in Teesside by his marriage to Aelfflaed. Siward had a rocky relationship with the clergy in Durham. They were "terrified and overwhelmed by the fearful power of the earl".(6)

"Around this time Siward, the mighty earl of Northumbria, almost a giant in stature, very strong mentally and physically, sent his son to conquer Scotland. When they came back and reported to his father that he had been killed in battle, he asked 'Did he receive his fatal wound in the front or the back of his body?' The messengers said 'In the front'. Then he said, 'That makes me very happy, for I consider no other death worthy for me or my son'. Then Siward set out for Scotland, and defeated the king in battle, destroyed the whole realm, and having destroyed it, subjected it to himself".(8)

"At this time earl Siward went with a great army into Scotland, with both fleet and a land-force; and fought against the Scots, and put to flight the king Mac Bethad, and slew all that were best in the land, and brought thence much war-spoil, such as no man obtained before; And there were slain his son Osbjorn, and his sister's son Siward, and some of his housecarls, and also of the king's, on the day of the Seven Sleepers [July 27]."

"Siward, the stalwart earl, being stricken by dysentery, felt that death was near, and said, "How shameful it is that I, who could not die in so many battles, should have been saved for the ignominious death of a cow! At least clothe me in my impenetrable breastplate, gird me with my sword, place my helmet on my head, my shield in my left hand, my gilded battle-axe in my right, that I, the bravest of soldiers, may die like a soldier." He spoke, and armed as he had requested, he gave up his spirit with honour".(9)

Issue-both children probably by Aelfflaed, however, Osbearn may have been the son of Godgifu.

2II. WALTHEOF- m. JUDITH de LENS, d. 31 May 1076

Ref:

(1) Vita et Passio Waldevi Comitis- quoted at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siward,_Earl_of_Northumbria
(2) "Cnut's Earls"- Simon Keynes in "The Reign of Cnut: King of England, Denmark and Norway", Leicester University Press, 1994- pp. 54-66
(3) "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" for 1041; "Libellus de Exordio Ataque Procursu Istius, Hoc Est Dunhelmensis Ecclesie"- David Rollason, Clarendon Press, 2000- pp. 170-1
(4) "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"- 1043
(5) Ibid- 1051
(6) "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" for 1041; "Libellus de Exordio Ataque Procursu Istius, Hoc Est Dunhelmensis Ecclesie"- David Rollason, Clarendon Press, 2000- p. 171
(7) Agreement quoted at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siward,_Earl_of_Northumbria
(8) "Historia Anglorum"- Henry of Huntingdon- in "Henry of Huntingdon: The History of the English People 1000-1154"- Diana Greenway, Oxford University Press, 2002- p. 21
(9) Ibid- p. 22

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2II. WALTHEOF (SIWARD 1)-

m. JUDITH, d. of Lambert II, Count of Lens and Adelaide of Normandy.
d. 31 May 1076

Waltheof- Croyland Abbey- 15th Century

At his father's death in 1055, Waltheof was too young to succeed to the earldom so King Edward appointed Tostig Godwinson as earl until 1065 when he became earl of Northampton and Huntingdon. After the Battle of Hastings he submitted to William the Conqueror and was able to keep his possessions and title until 1068. Walter joined Edgar the Aetheling and King Sweyn in their revolt in northern England in 1069, however, he again submitted to King William when the invaders left the country in 1070. By 1072 he was appointed Earl of Northumberland.

The Domesday Book states: "In Hallam one manor with its sixteen hamlets, there are twenty-nine carucates to be taxed. There Earl Waltheof had an Aula [a hall or court]. There may have been about twenty ploughs. This land Roger de Busli holds of the Countess Judith".

Waltheof was involved in a feud with the family who had killed his great-grandfather Uchtred the Bold and his grandfather Ealdred. In 1074 he sent his men to attack them and killed two of the oldest brothers.

In 1075 Waltheof was involved in the Revolt of the Earls against King William. He again repented and confessed to Archbishop Lanfranc and then to William who was in Normandy. Upon his return to England he was arrested and brought before the court and found guilty of treason. He was in prison almost a year before being beheaded on 31 May 1076 at St. Gile's Hill near Winchester. He spent his prison sentence in prayer and fasting and many believed he was innocent. After his execution his body was thrown in a ditch, however, it was retrieved and buried in the chapter house at Croyland Abbey. In 1092 there was a fire at the chapter house and Waltheof's body was moved to the abbey church. When the coffin was opened the corpse was found to be intact with the head re-joined to the body which was, of course, regarded as a miracle. The abbey began to pulicise this miracle which was good for business as pilgrims began to visit Waltheof's tomb. Healing miracles then took place around his tomb, often involving the restoration of lost vision. Issue-