Ælfgar

Ælfgar was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who served as Earl of Mercia and later Earl of East Anglia. His career spanned the turbulent period of the mid-11th century, witnessing significant political shifts and Viking incursions. He was the son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and Lady Godiva, a well-known figure in English history.

Ælfgar's rise to prominence began during the reign of Edward the Confessor. He inherited the earldom of Mercia upon his father's death in 1057. His political fortunes were closely tied to those of the Godwin family, and his influence waxed and waned depending on the prevailing power structures. In 1058, Ælfgar was exiled, likely due to conflict with the Godwins, but he returned within a year, possibly with Welsh support, to reclaim his earldom.

His second period of prominence was during the reign of Harold Godwinson. Ælfgar was appointed Earl of East Anglia in 1058, a significant but potentially temporary position. He is recorded as participating in the defense against a Welsh invasion in 1060. Ælfgar's death is generally placed around 1062. His son, Edwin, succeeded him as Earl of Mercia, and his other son, Morkere, became Earl of Northumbria. Both brothers played significant roles in the events leading up to and following the Norman Conquest of 1066.