Earls of Northumberland
1. Matilda (Maud) of Huntington, Queen of Scotland: (See Kings of Scotland for other husband) Born about 1072, of Huntington, Huntingdonshire, England; Died 23 April 1130/1131, Scotland; Married 1090, of Huntingdonshire, England; Simon De Saint Liz, Count of Huntington and Northampton: Born about 1046, of Normandy, France; Died about 1111, La Charite-Sur-L, Nievre, France. (See De Quincy) Matilda was the eldest daughter of Earl Waltheof.
2. Waltheof II, Earl of Northumberland and Huntington: Born about 1042, of Northumberland, England; Died 31 May 1076, beheaded at Winchester; Married 1070, of Artois, France; Judith of Lens (AKA Judith of Boulogne), Countess of Huntington: Born 1054/1055, of Lens, Artois, France; Died after 1086. (See Counts of Bologne) Waltheof was the last in a long line of the pre-Conquest earls of Northumbria; he was one of the few Anglo-Saxons of prominence who survived the subjection of his Country and retained high office and vast estates under the Normans. The chroniclers of his day attested to the esteem in which Waltheof was held by King William, who gave him Judith, the king's niece, for his wife in 1070, but had him beheaded nevertheless some six years later, allegedly for only suspected disloyalty.
3. Sigurd (Siward) Biornsson, Earl of Northumberland: Born about 1012, of Denmark; Died 1055, York, Yorkshire, England; Married about 1033, of Northumberland, England; Ælfled (Elfleda) of Bernicia, Countess of Northumbria: Born about 1016, of Bernicia, Northumbria, England. (See Earls of Northumbria)
4. Bjorn (Biorn) "Estridsson" Ulsiusson: Born about 990, of Denmark; Died 1045/1049.
5. Jarl, Ulf Thorgilsson, Regent of Denmark: Born about 967, of Halland, Sweden; Died 22 September 1027; Married about 987; Estrid Svendsdatter, Princess of Denmark: Born about 967, of Denmark; Died before 9 May. (See Kings of Denmark) Ulf was regent of Denmark for his son Sveyn II "Estridsson" Ulfsson, King of Denmark. Sveyn is the progenetor of the Danish royal line, extending unto this very day. Information about Ulf is very sketchy. There is little doubt that his loyalty to King Knut, his brother in law, was tenuous. There was the dubious transaction when by means of a stolen seal and a forged document he sought to make Knut's young son Hordaknut King of Denmark. Ulf provided no worthwhile opposition to the first hostile moves of Sweden and Norway, but retreated to Jutland. Ulf also had a disputed role in the disputed battle of Holy River in the disputed year of 1025 or 6 or 7. In this battle Onnund-Jakob and King Olaf Sköttkonung of Norway met with King Knut of Denmark. Olaf had taken up a defensive position in the mouth of the Holy River. Some chroniclers awarded the victory of this battle to Olaf and his confederates and others to Kunt and the Danes. Jarl Ulf is reported as playing a decisive role on both sides. Details of the fight are more than usually unreliable. But something may be deduced from its immediate consequences. Onnund headed home with most of his fleet intact and his friendship with Olaf quickly broke down. Knut retired to Denmark and settled his score with Jarl Ulf, whom he had murdered in Roskilde Church.
One story of Ulf's life is taken from Knytingla Saga, chapter 11. It is set immediately after the battle of Skorstein, fought in England between Edmund, King of England and Knut (Canute the Great) Danish King of England. The battle had gone badly for King Edmund and King Knut was in pursuit of stragglers from the battle. "Ulf Jarl was then, as often one of the foremost of the men of King Knut, and pursued the fugitives the farthest; he entered a wood so thick that he did not get out of it until dawn. Then he saw in some fields in front of him sheep which a well grown boy was driving. Ulf Jarl went to him, greeted him, and asked his name. He answered: 'I am called Gudini (Godwin); but art thou one of Knut's men?' Ulf Jarl replied: 'I am certainly one of his warriors; but how far is it hence to our ships?' 'I do not know,' said the boy, 'how you Danes can expect help from us, and you have not deserved it.' Ulf Jarl answered: "I will however ask of thee to help me to find our ships.' The boy said: 'Thou hast gone straight away from them, and far inland across wild forests. The men of Knut are not very much liked by the people here, and for good reason for the slaughter yesterday at Skorstein is known in the neighborhood, and neither thou nor any other of his men will be spared if the BOEndr find you; and if any one help you the same fate awaits him; but I think thou art a good man, and not the one thou pretendest to be.' Ulf Jarl took a gold ring off his hand and said: 'I will give thee this ring if thou wilt guide me to our men.' Godwin looked at him for a while, and said slowly: 'I will not take the ring, but I will try to guide thee to thy men, and will rather have the reward thou thinkest right if I can give thee some help; but if I cannot I deserve no reward; now thou shalt first go home with me to my father.' They did so. When they came to the farm (boer) they went to a little room and Gudini (Godwin) had a table set there, and good food and drink were given. Ulf Jarl saw that it was a good farm. The bondi and the housewife came to them; they were both handsome and well dressed; they received the guest well, and he remained there that day in the best entertainment. Toward night two good horses were prepared with the best riding gear. They then said to Ulf: "Now farewell ; I give into thy hands my own son; I ask of thee if thou should come to the King, and thy words might have some influence to get him into his service, for he cannot stay with me hereafter, if our Countrymen hear that he has guided thee away, in whatever way I may escape myself.' Ulf Jarl promised to get Godwin into the host. Godwin was very handsome and talked well. The bondi's name was Ulfnadr.
Ulf Jarl and Godwin rode all that night, and in the morning, when it was light, they came to the ships, and Knut's men were ashore. When they saw the Jarl and recognized him, they welcomed him as one who escaped from death, for he was so popular that everyone loved him. Godwin then for the first time knew who he followed. The Jarl seated Godwin in the high-seat at his side, and in short gave him in marriage to his sister Gyda; and with the aid and advice of Ulf Jarl, King Knut gave him a jarldom for the sake of Ulf Jarl, his brother-in-law" The son of Godwin and Gyda was Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, who lost his throne at the battle of Hastings to William the Conqueror.
6. Thorgils Sprakling: Born about 936; Married Sigrid (Sprakling): Born about 941.
7. Styrbjorn "the Strong" Starke: Born about 959; Died 985; Married Tyre Haraldsdatter Blauzahn: Born about 961; Died 18 September 1000. Styrbjorn led an expedition against his uncle Erik "The Victorious", King of Sweden. He brought with him Danes and mercenaries from Jomsborg-Wollin. He desired the Swedish crown but was defeated when he reached Uppsala. His troops were routed and suffered heavy losses. He seems to have been badly let down by his Danish auxiliaries. Several runic stones from Skåne, the Danish part of Sweden, commemorate the men who did not flee at Uppsala, but fought as long as they held weapons in their hands. Through this victory Styrbjorn's uncle, Erik, gained his name--"the Victorious".
Tyre's Parents--
Styrbjorn's Parents--
8. Olof "Mitkg" Edmundsson: Born about 933, of Sweden; Married Ingeberg: Born about 935.
9. Bjorn "the Old", King of Sweden: Born about 867, of Uppsala, Sweden; Died about 950. (See Kings of Sweden)