Uchtred the Bold

     Uchtred the Bold was born in Bernicia at the castle of Bamburgh. In 995 the remains of St Cuthbert were transferred to Durham. Uhtred helped the monks clear the site where the new cathedral was to be built. The new cathedral was founded by Bishop Aldhun. Uchtred married Ecgfrida, daughter of Bishop Aldhun (?), circa 998 in the Kingdom of Bernicia. It is no coincidence that Uchtred married the bishop’s daughter, about this same time. It is also no coincidence that he received several estates that belonged to the church. Uchtred remained in Durham, his aging father, Waltheof, living at Bamburgh Castle. In 1006, Malcolm II of Scotland, realizing the vulnerability of his southern neighbors, invaded Northumbria. Waltheof was unable to respond and stayed at this castle and no one else in power was in a position to respond as well. Uchtred, in the name of his father, took up his arms, assembled an army of Angles from the kingdom, fought and defeated the Scots. The victory was decisive and as proof to all in the kingdom, the local women washed the severed heads of the Scots for the price of one cow for each head. The heads were fixed on a stick and displayed on the walls of Durham. King Ethelred of England was so pleased with the results produced by Uchtred that he rewarded Uhtred with the earldom of Bernicia, even though his father was still living. Ethelred also had the Earl of York murdered and placed Uchtred as the Earl of York as well. This effectively united the two ancient kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira under the house of Bamburgh, returning the ruling powers to what they had been 500 years earlier. After being settled in as the Earl of all of Northumbria, Uchtred divorced Ecgfrida. Uchtred married 2nd Sige (?) circa 1011. This marriage, of course, was a political move, making allies among the Danes living within his new Earldom. In 1013, the king of Denmark invading England, by sailing up the Humber, Uchtred had no choice but to do homage to the king. For his own safety, he went into exile in Normandy. He had to remain there for only a short time as the Danish king died, allowing him to return to his earldom and resume his reign. Along with the rest of the nobility, he transferred his allegiance back to Ethelred. Once again he found his marriage to be inconvenient and left his wife to allow another marriage to further his political career. Uchtred married 3rd Aelfgifu (?) circa 1014 in England. Typical of thisime period, once again in 1016, Uchtred was the head of an army, campaigning with Edmund, later to be known as “Ironside”, in remote parts of England. While he was away from Northrumbia, Cnute, now the Danish king invaded and took over the area. Again, Uchtred was forced to do homage to a Danish king. When he was summoned to a meeting with Cnute, in that same year, Uchtred went with 40 of his own men, but on the way, they were murdered by Thurbrand the Hold with the connivance of Cnute. This killing began a blood feud that lasted for three generations.