History |
Alfgar was the son of Leofric, ealdorman of Mercia, and Godgifu of Bucknall (Lady Godiva). With his wife Elfgifu he had several children of whom a daughter Ealdgyth (Edith) would have progeny, marrying Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, king of Deheubarth, in about 1056.
In 1055 Alfgar was outlawed, \'without any fault\', says the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and was forced to seek the protection of Gruffydd in Wales. Alfgar raised an army in Ireland and Wales and brought it to Hereford, where he clashed with the army of Earl Ralph of Herefordshire and severely damaged the town, burning down much of it, including the great stone church of St. Mary and St. Aethelbert. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports, \'They burned the town and the great mynstre, which the venerable Bishop Athelstan had before caused to be built, that they plundered and bereaved the relics and of vestments and of all things and slew the folk and led some away.\' The Chronicle adds dryly: \'And then when they had done most harm, it was decided to reinstate Earl Alfgar\'. [1] |