Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria facts for kids

Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria (died May 31, 1076) was the last important Anglo-Saxon earl (a powerful noble). He was the only English noble to be put to death during the rule of King William I.

Early Life and Family

Waltheof was the second son of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. His mother was Aelfflaed. In 1054, Waltheof became the main heir to his father's position. This happened after his older brother, Osbearn, was killed in a battle.

When Siward died in 1055, Waltheof was too young to take over as Earl of Northumbria. So, King Edward chose Tostig Godwinson to be the earl instead.

Waltheof and the Danish Invasion

In 1069, King Sweyn II of Denmark attacked Northern England. Waltheof and Edgar Aetheling joined forces with the Danes. They took part in an attack on the city of York.

After the Danish invaders left in 1070, Waltheof again promised his loyalty to King William. William then gave Waltheof his earldom back. Waltheof also married William's niece, Judith of Lens. In 1072, he was also made Earl of Northampton.

Waltheof had some long-standing family disagreements in the north. In 1074, Waltheof sent his men to fight against a family that had caused trouble for his ancestors. They managed to defeat two of the brothers from that family.

The Revolt and Waltheof's Death

In 1075, Waltheof joined a group of nobles in the Revolt of the Earls against King William I. It is not fully clear why he joined this revolt or how much he was involved.

However, Waltheof later changed his mind. He admitted what he had done wrong first to Archbishop Lanfranc. Then he confessed directly to King William I, who was in Normandy at the time. Waltheof returned to England with William. But he was arrested and brought before the king's court two times. He was then sentenced to death.

Waltheof's Legacy

statue traditionally identified as Waltheof, at Croyland Abbey, west front of ruined nave, 4th tier

In 1092, after a fire at Croyland Abbey, Waltheof's body was moved to a special place in the abbey church. When his coffin was opened, people said his body was still whole, and his head (which had been cut off) was back on his body.

People believed this was a miracle. The abbey started to tell everyone about it. Because of this, many people began to visit Waltheof's tomb. He was remembered on August 31st each year.

Because of these beliefs, Waltheof became a popular figure in stories. His brave, but sometimes not completely true, adventures were written down. These stories include the Vita et Passio Waldevi comitis, a Middle English Waltheof saga, and the Anglo-Norman Waldef.

Waltheof's Family Life

In 1070, Waltheof married Judith de Lens. She was the daughter of Lambert II, Count of Lens and Adelaide of Normandy. Waltheof and Judith had three children.

Their oldest child, Maud, later brought the earldom of Huntingdon to her second husband, David I of Scotland. Another daughter, Adelise (also known as Alice of Northumbria), married an Anglo-Norman noble named Raoul III of Tosny.

One of Waltheof's grandsons was Waltheof (who died in 1159). He became an abbot (a leader of a monastery) at Melrose.

Waltheof in Books and TV

• Waltheof was played by actor Marcus Gilbert in the TV show Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990).
• He is the main topic of Juliet Dymoke's 1970 historical novel Of the Ring of Earls.
• Waltheof is an important character in Elizabeth Chadwick's 2002 historical novel The Winter Mantle.
• He also appears as a character in Parke Godwin's 1991 historical novel Sherwood.

See also

In Spanish: Waltheof para niños