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Edwin, Earl of Mercia

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Edwin(Old English:Ēadwine) (died 1071) was the elder brother ofMorcar, Earl of Northumbria,son ofÆlfgār, Earl of Merciaand grandson ofLeofric, Earl of Mercia.[1]He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on Ælfgār's death in 1062. He appears as Earl Edwin (Eduin comes) in theDomesday Book.[2]

Family[edit]

His younger brother,Morcarwas elected Earl ofNorthumbriawhenTostig Godwinsonwasejected by the Northumbrians(3 October, 1065). Tostig had been accused of robbing churches, depriving men of their lands and lives, and acting against the law.

Edwin's sister,Ealdgyth,had been married to Harold Godwinson until the latter's death atHastingson 14 October 1066.

Career[edit]

In 1066 Tostig raided in Mercia but was repulsed by Edwin and Morcar and fled toScotland.Later in the year he returned, accompanied by KingHarald Hardradaof Norway at the head of a huge Norwegian army, which defeated Edwin and Morcar at theBattle of FulfordnearYork(20 September). Harald and Tostig were in turn defeated and slain byHarold Godwinson's army, five days later at theBattle of Stamford Bridge(25 September). After Harold's death at theBattle of Hastings,where Edwin and Morcar were absent, they were the principal supporters of a new regime underEdgar the Ætheling,though they had wished the public to elect one of them king, but failed to take effective steps against the invadingNormansand soon submitted toDuke William.

In 1068, Edwin and Morcar attempted to raise a rebellion in Mercia but swiftly submitted when William moved against them. Edwin died in 1071; while making his way to Scotland he was betrayed by his own retinue to the Normans and killed.

Lands[edit]

Edwin's lands centred atGilling Westin his brother's Northumbrian earldom, were given toAlain Le Roux(also known as Alan Rufus) in 1071 or perhaps earlier,[3]and the district was renamedRichmondshire,or theHonour of Richmond.

Depictions in fiction[edit]

Edwin was portrayed by Adam Bareham in the TV dramaBlood Royal: William the Conqueror(1990). He is mentioned inAlice's Adventures in Wonderland(1865) by Lewis Carroll, when themouseattempts to dry itself and other characters by reciting a dry example of English history. This inclusion in Carroll's book is made interesting as he is distantly related to both Edwin and Morcar. (Martin Gardner, The Annotated Alice, Clarkson Potter, New York (1960), pp 46-7.)

References[edit]

  1. ^"Eadwine, earl of Mercia" (d. 1071):doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/52351in Ann Williams, ‘Ælfgar, earl of Mercia (d. 1062?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004accessed 18 April 2008
  2. ^BoAr: FNQ: Hereward II
  3. ^"The Honour Castle of Richmond".British History. 1 March 2016.Retrieved12 January2019.The date of the grant is uncertain, and no charter remains to bear witness to it. The most likely date in that case would seem to be 1069, when Edwin was still living... If the evidence of the so-called charter is inaccurate on this point as on others the grant may have been delayed until after the death of Edwin in 1071.

External links[edit]

Peerage of England
Preceded by Earl of Mercia
1062–1071
Vacant