Biography of Ealdgyth Mercia 1024-1066

Around 1024 Ealdgyth Mercia was born to [her father] Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia.

In or before 1049 [her future husband] King Harold II of England (age 26) and Edyth "Swanneck" Swannesha (age 23) were married. He the son of Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex (age 47) and Gytha Countess Kent and Wessex.

On 15th April 1053 Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex (age 52) died. His son [her future brother-in-law] Leofwine (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Kent. His son [her future husband] Harold Godinson (age 31) succeeded 2nd Earl Wessex.

Before 1056 [her son-in-law] Osbern St John 2nd Baron Burford (age 15) and [her daughter] Nest verch Gruffydd Cadelling Baroness Burford were married. She the daughter of [her future husband] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 31).

Around 1057 [her husband] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales was appointed King Wales.

Around 1057 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 33) were married. She the daughter of Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia. He the son of Llywelyn ap Seisyll King Gwynedd King Powys King Deheubarth and Angharad ferch Maredudd.

Around 31st August 1057 [her grandfather] Leofric Earldorman Mercia died at Kings Bromley, Staffordshire [Map]. His son [her father] Ælfgar succeeded Earldorman Mercia.

In 1058 [her future husband] King Harold II of England (age 36) was created 1st Earl Hereford.

Around 1060 [her father] Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia died.

In 1063 [her brother-in-law] Bleddyn ap Cynfyn King Gwynedd King Powys succeeded King Gwynedd.

In October 1065 [her brother] Morcar Earl Northumbria was appointed Earldorman Northumbria.

In January 1066 King Harold II of England (age 44) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42) were married. She the daughter of Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia. He the son of Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex and Gytha Countess Kent and Wessex.

In or after January 1066 [her son] Harold Godwinson was born to [her husband] King Harold II of England (age 44) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42).

Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. September 1066. [her husband] Harold (age 44) reigned nine months and as many days. The earls [her brother] Edwin and [her brother] Morcar, who had withdrawn with their troops from the battle on hearing that he was dead, went to London, and sent off their sister, queen Elgitha (age 42), to Chester; but Aldred, archbishop of York, and the earls just mentioned, with the citizens of London and the seamen, were desirous to proclaim Edgar (age 15) the etheling king, he being nephew of king Edmund Ironside; and promised that they would renew the war under his banner. But while many were preparing to go forth to battle, the earls withdrew their support, and returned home with their army.

On 3rd October 1066 [her brother] Edwin Earl of Mercia was appointed Earldorman Mercia when [her brother-in-law] Tostig Godwinson Earl Northumbria (deceased) was rejected by the Northumbrians for having acted against the law.

Around November 1066 [her son] Ulf Godwinson was born to [her former husband] King Harold II of England (deceased) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42).

After November 1066 Ealdgyth Mercia (deceased) died.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. And, after Gryffydd¹, king of the Welsh, had been slain by the sword of his enemies, Harold took to himself Gryffydd's beautiful widow Ealdgyth, daughter of the noble earl [her father] Ælfgar. In those days, a comet appeared in the direction of Circius², which, with three rays stretched far out, illuminating a great part of the southern heavens for fifteen nights, and, as many said, signified the change of some kingdom.

... Grithfridi quoque regis Wallorum, postquam hostilis eum gladius peremit, pulchram conjugem Aldith, præclari comitis Algari filiam, sibi uxorem junxit. In diebus illis, in parte Circii cometes apparuit, quæ tribus radiis longius protensis, maximam partem Austri per spatium quindecim noctium illustravit et mutationem, ut plurimi asseruerunt, alicujus regni designavit.

Note 1. Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, around 1010-1063. Chronicon ex Chronicis: "Griffyth, king of Wales, was slain by his own people, on the nones of August [5th August 1063], and his head and the beak of his ship, with its ornaments, were sent to earl Harold, who, shortly afterwards, presented them to king Edward. The king then gave the territories of the Welsh king to his brothers Blethgent and Rithwalon, and they swore to be faithful to him and Harold, and promised to be ready to obey their orders by sea and land, and that they would faithfully pay whatever was paid before from that country to former kings."

Note 2. 'Circius'. A reference to the north-north-west wind. The comet being Halley's Comet which has a cycle of around 76 years. The comet is noticed in numerous sources around the world including William of Malmesbury: "Soon after a comet, a star denoting, as they say, change in kingdoms, appeared trailing its extended and fiery train along the sky. Wherefore a certain monk of our monastery, by name Elmer, bowing down with terror at the sight of the brilliant star, wisely exclaimed, 'Thou art come! a matter of lamentation to many a mother art thou come; I have seen thee long since; but I now behold thee much more terrible, threatening to hurl destruction on this country.'"

[her daughter] Nest verch Gruffydd Cadelling Baroness Burford was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia. She married before 1056 Osbern St John 2nd Baron Burford, son of Richard Fitzscrope 1st Baron Burford, and had issue.

[her son] Idwal Cadelling was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia.

[her son] Maredudd Cadelling was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia.