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{{Short description|Governors of East Anglia during the 11th century}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The '''Earls of East Anglia''' were governors of [[East Anglia]] during the 11th century. The post was established by [[Canute the Great|Cnut]] in 1017 and disappeared following [[Ralph Guader]]'s participation in the failed [[Revolt of the Earls]] in 1075.
The '''Earls of East Anglia''' were governors of [[East Anglia]] during the 11th century. The post was established by [[Canute the Great|Cnut]] in 1017 and disappeared following [[Ralph Guader]]'s participation in the failed [[Revolt of the Earls]] in 1075.


==Ealdormen of East Anglia==
==Ealdormen of East Anglia==
Until 917 [[Kingdom of East Anglia|East Anglia was a kingdom]], which from 870 was under Danish control. In that year the East Anglian Danes submitted to King [[Edward the Elder]] and East Anglia became part of the expanding [[Kingdom of England]]. It is not clear who was placed in charge there, but it is probable that the Ealdorman Æthelfrith of south east Mercia may have been granted authority over the newly restored area by Edward.<ref> Walker, Ian W. ''Mercia and the making of England'' Sutton 2000 ISBN 0-7509-2131-5 p130</ref> He died in ''c.''927<ref>[http://aemyers.net/genealogy/d0026/g0000025.html Aemyers Genealogy: Earl Athelfrith] Retrieved on 2008-01-13.</ref> and was succeeded by his son, [[Æthelstan Half-King|Æthelstan ''Half-King'']], a very powerful aristocrat who ruled an extensive territory and witnessed numerous charters from 932, and whose family remained powerfu in the area.<ref>[http://www.pase.ac.uk/jsp/DisplayPerson.jsp?personKey=9343 Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England: Æthelstan Half-King] Retrieved on 2008-01-13.</ref>
Until 917 [[Kingdom of East Anglia|East Anglia was a kingdom]], which from 870 was under Danish control. In that year the East Anglian Danes submitted to King [[Edward the Elder]] and East Anglia became part of the expanding [[Kingdom of England]]. It is not clear who was placed in charge there, but it is probable that the Ealdorman Æthelfrith of south east Mercia may have been granted authority over the newly restored area by Edward.<ref>Walker, Ian W. ''Mercia and the making of England'' Sutton 2000 {{ISBN|0-7509-2131-5}} p130</ref> He died in ''c.''927<ref>[http://aemyers.net/genealogy/d0026/g0000025.html Aemyers Genealogy: Earl Athelfrith] Retrieved on 2008-01-13.</ref> and was succeeded by his son, [[Æthelstan Half-King|Æthelstan ''Half-King'']], a very powerful aristocrat who ruled an extensive territory and witnessed numerous charters from 932, and whose family remained powerful in the area.<ref>{{PASE|9343|Æthelstan 26|cw=1|accessdate=2008-01-13}}</ref>


==Danish, English and Norman Earls==
==Danish, English and Norman Earls==
Following Cnut's conquest of England in 1016, in the following year he divided the kingdom into a few large administrative regions governed by [[earl]]s, which followed the territorial outlines of the former kingdoms of [[Wessex]], [[Mercia]], [[Northumbria]] and East Anglia, roughly as they had existed in the mid-9th century. However, the exact outlines of these earldoms varied over the decades, while other, more transitory earldoms were created for particular individuals. The core of the earldom of East Anglia comprised [[Norfolk]] and [[Suffolk]], while other shires such as [[Essex]], [[Middlesex]] and [[Cambridgeshire]] were also included within it at various times. The first Earl of East Anglia was [[Thorkell the Tall]], appointed in 1017. Thorkell and his family were outlawed by Canute in 1021, only to be pardoned again in 1023. His immediate successors are unknown.
Following Cnut's conquest of England in 1016, in the following year he divided the kingdom into a few large administrative regions governed by [[earl]]s, which followed the territorial outlines of the former kingdoms of [[Wessex]], [[Mercia]], [[Northumbria]] and East Anglia, roughly as they had existed in the mid-9th century. However, the exact outlines of these earldoms varied over the decades, while other, more transitory earldoms were created for particular individuals. The core of the earldom of East Anglia comprised [[Norfolk]] and [[Suffolk]], while other shires such as [[Essex]], [[Middlesex]] and [[Cambridgeshire]] were also included within it at various times. The first Earl of East Anglia was [[Thorkell the Tall]], appointed in 1017. Thorkell and his family were outlawed by Canute in 1021, only to be pardoned again in 1023. His immediate successors are unknown.


The native English dynasty was restored with the accession of King [[Edward the Confessor]] in 1042. During his reign East Anglia, smaller than the other three original earldoms and not containing the power-base of any of the tiny handful of families which then dominated English politics, became a posting held by younger members of two of these great families. By 1045 the earldom was in the hands of [[Harold Godwinson|Harold]], the second son of [[Godwin, Earl of Wessex]]. In 1051 Godwin and his sons were driven into exile and their earldoms assigned to others; East Anglia went to [[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]], son of [[Leofric, Earl of Mercia]]. However, in 1052 Godwin and his sons returned in force to England and regained their former positions. When Godwin died in 1053 Harold was appointed Earl of Wessex in his place, and he was again replaced in East Anglia by Ælfgar. In 1055 Ælfgar was outlawed and driven into exile, but within the year he had regained his former position. He too went on to greater things in 1057, when his father Leofric died and Ælfgar was appointed Earl of Mercia in his stead. The earldom of East Anglia was then assigned to [[Gyrth Godwinson|Gyrth]], one of Harold's younger brothers, who held it until his death at the [[Battle of Hastings]] in 1066.
The native English dynasty was restored with the accession of King [[Edward the Confessor]] in 1042. During his reign East Anglia, smaller than the other three original earldoms and not containing the power-base of any of the tiny handful of families which then dominated English politics, became a posting held by younger members of two of these great families. By 1045 the earldom was in the hands of [[Harold Godwinson|Harold]], the second son of [[Godwin, Earl of Wessex]]. In 1051 Godwin and [[House of Godwin|his sons]] were driven into exile and their earldoms assigned to others; East Anglia went to [[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]], son of [[Leofric, Earl of Mercia]]. However, in 1052 Godwin and his sons returned in force to England and regained their former positions. When Godwin died in 1053 Harold was appointed Earl of Wessex in his place, and he was again replaced in East Anglia by Ælfgar. In 1055 Ælfgar was outlawed and driven into exile, but within the year he had regained his former position. He too went on to greater things in 1057, when his father Leofric died and Ælfgar was appointed Earl of Mercia in his stead. The earldom of East Anglia was then assigned to [[Gyrth Godwinson|Gyrth]], one of Harold's younger brothers, who held it until his death at the [[Battle of Hastings]] in 1066.


Following the [[Norman Conquest of England]], [[William the Conqueror]] appointed [[Ralph the Staller]], an aristocrat of [[Breton people|Breton]] ancestry born in Norfolk, to the earldom. On his death he was replaced by his son [[Ralph Guader]], who was one of the leaders of a rebellion against William, known as the [[Revolt of the Earls]], in 1075. With the failure of this uprising Ralph fled to his lands in [[Brittany]] and no successor was appointed. Later earldoms created in the region were on a smaller scale. This was in keeping with developments elsewhere in the country. Whereas in the mid-eleventh century England had been administered through a handful of large earldoms covering the entire country, under the [[Norman dynasty|Norman]] kings earldoms were soon reduced to units covering only a single shire, found only in some parts of the kingdom, and before long they had become essentially honorific titles rather than positions of real governmental power.
Following the [[Norman Conquest of England]], [[William the Conqueror]] appointed [[Ralph the Staller]], an aristocrat of [[Breton people|Breton]] ancestry born in Norfolk, to the earldom. On his death he was replaced by his son [[Ralph Guader]], who was one of the leaders of a rebellion against William, known as the [[Revolt of the Earls]], in 1075. With the failure of this uprising Ralph fled to his lands in [[Brittany]] and no successor was appointed (though many of Ralph's possessions passed to the great Breton magnate [[Alan Rufus]]). Later earldoms created in the region were on a smaller scale. This was in keeping with developments elsewhere in the country. Whereas in the mid-eleventh century England had been administered through a handful of large earldoms covering the entire country, under the [[Norman dynasty|Norman]] kings earldoms were soon reduced to units covering only a single shire, found only in some parts of the kingdom, and before long they had become essentially honorific titles rather than positions of real governmental power.


==List of ealdormen and earls==
==List of ealdormen and earls==
Line 25: Line 27:
|'''Ælfred'''
|'''Ælfred'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2>Cyril Hart, ''The Danelaw'', London (1992), p. 195, table 5.2</ref>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2>Cyril Hart, ''The Danelaw'', London (1992), p. 195, table 5.2</ref>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|932
|align=center|932
Line 31: Line 33:
|'''[[Æthelstan Half-King]]'''
|'''[[Æthelstan Half-King]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|957
|align=center|957
Line 37: Line 39:
|'''[[Æthelwald, Ealdorman of East Anglia|Æthelwald]]'''
|'''[[Æthelwald, Ealdorman of East Anglia|Æthelwald]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|962
|align=center|962
Line 43: Line 45:
|'''[[Æthelwine, Ealdorman of East Anglia|Æthelwine]]'''
|'''[[Æthelwine, Ealdorman of East Anglia|Æthelwine]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|993
|align=center|993
Line 49: Line 51:
|'''Leofsige'''
|'''Leofsige'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|}
|}
Line 66: Line 68:
|'''[[Thorkell the Tall]]'''
|'''[[Thorkell the Tall]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|? c. 1026
|align=center|? c. 1026
Line 72: Line 74:
|'''[[Osgod Clapa]]''' *
|'''[[Osgod Clapa]]''' *
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<small>* ''Uncertain''<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<small>* ''Uncertain''</small><ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|}
|}
Line 89: Line 91:
|'''[[Harold Godwinson]]'''
|'''[[Harold Godwinson]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|1051
|align=center|1051
Line 95: Line 97:
|'''[[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]]'''
|'''[[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|1052
|align=center|1052
Line 101: Line 103:
|'''[[Harold Godwinson]]'''
|'''[[Harold Godwinson]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|1053
|align=center|1053
Line 107: Line 109:
|'''[[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]]'''
|'''[[Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia|Ælfgar]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|1057
|align=center|1057
|align=center|1066
|align=center|
|'''[[Gyrth Godwinson]]'''
|'''[[Gyrth Godwinson]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|}
|}


Line 129: Line 131:
|'''[[Ralph the Staller|Radulf the Staller]]'''
|'''[[Ralph the Staller|Radulf the Staller]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|align=center|c. 1069
|align=center|c. 1069
Line 135: Line 137:
|'''[[Radulf de Gael]]'''
|'''[[Radulf de Gael]]'''
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|<ref name=Hart-table5.2/>
|
|<small>
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|-valign=top bgcolor="#ffffee"
|}
|}

== Family tree==
{{Dukes of Norfolk family tree}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{British earldoms}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:East Anglia}}
[[Category:Earldoms in England before 1066]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1067]]
[[Category:Earls and ealdormen of East Anglia|*]]
[[Category:Earls and ealdormen of East Anglia|*]]
[[Category:Extinct earldoms|East Anglia]]
[[Category:Archaeology of East Anglia]]
[[Category:Kingdom of East Anglia]]
[[Category:Kingdom of East Anglia]]

[[fr:Comte d'Est-Anglie]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 4 March 2024

The Earls of East Anglia were governors of East Anglia during the 11th century. The post was established by Cnut in 1017 and disappeared following Ralph Guader's participation in the failed Revolt of the Earls in 1075.

Ealdormen of East Anglia

[edit]

Until 917 East Anglia was a kingdom, which from 870 was under Danish control. In that year the East Anglian Danes submitted to King Edward the Elder and East Anglia became part of the expanding Kingdom of England. It is not clear who was placed in charge there, but it is probable that the Ealdorman Æthelfrith of south east Mercia may have been granted authority over the newly restored area by Edward.[1] He died in c.927[2] and was succeeded by his son, Æthelstan Half-King, a very powerful aristocrat who ruled an extensive territory and witnessed numerous charters from 932, and whose family remained powerful in the area.[3]

Danish, English and Norman Earls

[edit]

Following Cnut's conquest of England in 1016, in the following year he divided the kingdom into a few large administrative regions governed by earls, which followed the territorial outlines of the former kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia, roughly as they had existed in the mid-9th century. However, the exact outlines of these earldoms varied over the decades, while other, more transitory earldoms were created for particular individuals. The core of the earldom of East Anglia comprised Norfolk and Suffolk, while other shires such as Essex, Middlesex and Cambridgeshire were also included within it at various times. The first Earl of East Anglia was Thorkell the Tall, appointed in 1017. Thorkell and his family were outlawed by Canute in 1021, only to be pardoned again in 1023. His immediate successors are unknown.

The native English dynasty was restored with the accession of King Edward the Confessor in 1042. During his reign East Anglia, smaller than the other three original earldoms and not containing the power-base of any of the tiny handful of families which then dominated English politics, became a posting held by younger members of two of these great families. By 1045 the earldom was in the hands of Harold, the second son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. In 1051 Godwin and his sons were driven into exile and their earldoms assigned to others; East Anglia went to Ælfgar, son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. However, in 1052 Godwin and his sons returned in force to England and regained their former positions. When Godwin died in 1053 Harold was appointed Earl of Wessex in his place, and he was again replaced in East Anglia by Ælfgar. In 1055 Ælfgar was outlawed and driven into exile, but within the year he had regained his former position. He too went on to greater things in 1057, when his father Leofric died and Ælfgar was appointed Earl of Mercia in his stead. The earldom of East Anglia was then assigned to Gyrth, one of Harold's younger brothers, who held it until his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Following the Norman Conquest of England, William the Conqueror appointed Ralph the Staller, an aristocrat of Breton ancestry born in Norfolk, to the earldom. On his death he was replaced by his son Ralph Guader, who was one of the leaders of a rebellion against William, known as the Revolt of the Earls, in 1075. With the failure of this uprising Ralph fled to his lands in Brittany and no successor was appointed (though many of Ralph's possessions passed to the great Breton magnate Alan Rufus). Later earldoms created in the region were on a smaller scale. This was in keeping with developments elsewhere in the country. Whereas in the mid-eleventh century England had been administered through a handful of large earldoms covering the entire country, under the Norman kings earldoms were soon reduced to units covering only a single shire, found only in some parts of the kingdom, and before long they had become essentially honorific titles rather than positions of real governmental power.

List of ealdormen and earls

[edit]
English ealdormen of East Anglia
From Until Incumbent Citation(s) Notes
930 931 Ælfred [4]
932 956 Æthelstan Half-King [4]
957 962 Æthelwald [4]
962 992 Æthelwine [4]
993 1002 Leofsige [4]
Danish earls of East Anglia
From Until Incumbent Citation(s) Notes
1017 1021 Thorkell the Tall [4]
? c. 1026 1044 or 1045 Osgod Clapa * [4] * Uncertain[4]
English earls of East Anglia
From Until Incumbent Citation(s) Notes
1044 or 1045 1051 Harold Godwinson [4]
1051 1052 Ælfgar [4]
1052 1053 Harold Godwinson [4]
1053 1057 Ælfgar [4]
1057 Gyrth Godwinson [4]
Norman earls of East Anglia
From Until Incumbent Citation(s) Notes
1067 1069 Radulf the Staller [4]
c. 1069 1075 Radulf de Gael [4]

Family tree

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Walker, Ian W. Mercia and the making of England Sutton 2000 ISBN 0-7509-2131-5 p130
  2. ^ Aemyers Genealogy: Earl Athelfrith Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  3. ^ "Æthelstan 26". Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Cyril Hart, The Danelaw, London (1992), p. 195, table 5.2
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