Earl of East Anglia facts for kids

The Earls of East Anglia were important leaders in a part of England called East Anglia during the 1000s. These leaders were like governors, in charge of a large area. The job was created by King Cnut in 1017. It ended in 1075 after one of the Earls, Ralph Guader, joined a failed rebellion called the Revolt of the Earls.

Who Were the Early Leaders of East Anglia?

Before the Earls, there were leaders called ealdormen. East Anglia used to be its own kingdom. From 870, it was ruled by the Danes. But in 917, the Danes in East Anglia agreed to be part of the growing Kingdom of England, led by King Edward the Elder.

It's not totally clear who was in charge right away. But it seems that an ealdorman named Æthelfrith might have been given power over East Anglia. After he died around 927, his son, Æthelstan Half-King, took over. He was a very powerful noble. His family stayed important in the area for a long time.

Earls from Different Rulers: Danish, English, and Norman

How the Earldom Began Under Cnut

After Cnut conquered England in 1016, he divided the country into big regions. Each region was led by an earl. These regions were similar to older kingdoms like Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia.

The exact borders of these earldoms changed over time. Sometimes, new, temporary earldoms were made for certain people. The main part of the East Anglia earldom included Norfolk and Suffolk. Sometimes, other areas like Essex, Middlesex, and Cambridgeshire were also part of it.

The very first Earl of East Anglia was Thorkell the Tall. King Cnut appointed him in 1017. Thorkell and his family were sent away from England in 1021, but they were allowed to return in 1023. We don't know who became Earl right after him.

English Earls Under Edward the Confessor

The old English royal family returned to power when Edward the Confessor became King in 1042. During his rule, the East Anglia earldom was smaller than others. It became a job for younger members of the most powerful families in England.

By 1045, Harold, the second son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, became Earl of East Anglia. In 1051, Harold and his family were forced to leave England. Their earldoms were given to others. East Anglia went to Ælfgar, whose father was Leofric, Earl of Mercia.

However, in 1052, Harold and his family came back to England with an army. They got their old jobs back. When Harold's father, Godwin, died in 1053, Harold became Earl of Wessex. Ælfgar then became Earl of East Anglia again.

In 1055, Ælfgar was also forced into exile, but he got his position back within a year. He moved on to a bigger role in 1057. When his father Leofric died, Ælfgar became Earl of Mercia. The earldom of East Anglia was then given to Gyrth. He was one of Harold's younger brothers. Gyrth held the title until he died at the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Norman Earls After the Conquest

After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror became King. He appointed Ralph the Staller, a noble from Brittany who was born in Norfolk, as the new Earl of East Anglia.

When Ralph the Staller died, his son Ralph Guader took over. Ralph Guader was one of the leaders of a rebellion against King William in 1075. This rebellion was called the Revolt of the Earls. When the uprising failed, Ralph fled to his lands in Brittany. No new Earl was appointed for East Anglia after that.

Many of Ralph's lands were given to another important Breton noble, Alan Rufus. Later earldoms in England became much smaller. They usually covered only one shire (like a county). Over time, the title of Earl became more of an honorary title than a job with real governing power.

List of Ealdormen and Earls of East Anglia

Here is a list of the important leaders of East Anglia over the years.