Thurbrand the Hold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thurbrand the Hold
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| Born | birth date unknown birth place unknown
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| Died | c. 1024 |
| Cause of death | Ealdred II of Bamburgh, Earl of Northumbria |
| Other names | Thorbrand |
| Known for | Killing Uhtred the Bold, Earl of Northumbria |
| Children | 1 known son: Carl. 4 known grandsons: Thurbrand, Cnut, Sumarlithr, and another (whose name is lost) |
| Parent(s) | unknown |
Thurbrand (also known as Thorbrand) was an important leader in Northumbria around the early 1000s. He was nicknamed "the Hold," which was a special title for a powerful person. Thurbrand is most famous for killing Uhtred the Bold, who was the Earl of Northumbria. This killing was part of a bigger conflict. It happened during a time when the Danish kings, Sweyn Forkbeard and Cnut the Great, were fighting against the English king, Æthelred the Unready. Uhtred was a strong supporter of King Æthelred.
Thurbrand's actions started a long-running family feud. This feud involved his family and Uhtred's family for many years. Some people believe that the area called Holderness in England might have been named after Thurbrand because he lived or owned land there.
Thurbrand's Life and Times
Thurbrand was active during the reigns of several kings. These included King Æthelred the Unready (978–1016), King Sweyn Forkbeard (1013–1014), and King Cnut the Great (1016–1035). Some old writings say that Thurbrand was a "Danish nobleman."
His title, "Hold," was very important. It meant he was a high-ranking official, almost as important as a royal leader. He was more important than a "thegn" (a type of noble) but less important than an "ealdorman" (a very powerful regional ruler). It is very likely that Thurbrand was in charge of the area known as Holderness.
In 1009, a document from King Æthelred mentioned a "Thurbrand." Also, in 1014, a prince named Æthelstan Ætheling wrote in his will that a "Thurbrand" had given him a horse. It is possible that both of these mentions refer to Thurbrand the Hold.
An old story from Durham says that Thurbrand was a big enemy of a wealthy man named Styr. Styr was so important that he gave land to the church. The story also says that Earl Uhtred married Styr's daughter, Sige. Uhtred agreed to kill Thurbrand as part of their marriage deal. However, Uhtred never managed to kill Thurbrand. In fact, Thurbrand lived long enough to kill Uhtred instead.
The Killing of Earl Uhtred
Old stories tell us that Earl Uhtred married King Æthelred's daughter, Ælfgifu. This marriage might have been a way for the king to make sure Uhtred stayed loyal during the wars with the Danish kings.
The story of Uhtred's death at Thurbrand's hands is quite dramatic. After King Æthelred died, King Cnut took control of England. Cnut called Uhtred to meet him. Uhtred was promised safe travel to and from the meeting. But when Uhtred arrived, Thurbrand, who was a powerful supporter of King Cnut, had a plan. King Cnut's soldiers were hiding behind a curtain in the hall. They suddenly attacked Uhtred and 40 of his main men, killing them all.
Other historical records also mention that another important noble, Thurcytel, was killed with Uhtred. These sources suggest that King Cnut was behind the killing. After Uhtred's death, Cnut appointed a new earl named Eric of Hlathir.
This killing is believed to have happened around the year 1016. The exact place where Uhtred was killed is called Wiheal in old texts. Some historians think this might be Wighill, a place near Tadcaster. However, the spelling doesn't match perfectly, so the exact location is still a bit of a mystery. Another possible place is Worrall near Sheffield.
Thurbrand's Death and Family Feud
Thurbrand himself was later killed by Uhtred's son, Ealdred II of Bamburgh. This happened around the year 1024. Thurbrand had a son named Carl. Carl, in turn, had four sons. Two of them were named Cnut and Sumarlithr. It is thought that Thurbrand's oldest grandson was also named Thurbrand.
The family feud continued for many years. Carl, Thurbrand's son, killed Ealdred (Uhtred's son). Then, two of Carl's sons were killed by Ealdred's grandson, Earl Waltheof. This long series of revenge killings is a famous part of Anglo-Saxon history.
Historians have different ideas about why these killings happened. Some believe it was a true "bloodfeud," a long-standing fight between the families. Others think it was more about political power and who controlled different parts of England. Some historians also suggest that Thurbrand represented a "Scandinavian group" in Northumbria, while Uhtred was part of an "English group." This shows there was tension between the Danish and English parts of Northumbria.
