Morcar (or Morkere) (Old English: Mōrcǣr) (died 1015) was a thane (minister) of King Æthelred the Unready. He was given lands in Derbyshire in 1009, including Weston-on-Trent, Crich, and Smalley by King Æthelred[1] in 1011[2] and 1012. He was also given the freedom from the three common burdens.[1] He and his brother were executed in 1015. Morcar's brother's wife was later married to King Edmund Ironside.
Morcar was the son of Earngrim, according to John of Worcester,[3] and his brother was Sigeferth. He was mentioned in the will of Wulfric Spot, brother of Ælfhelm and son of Wulfrun. In 1004, when Wulfric died, he made Morcar a major beneficiary, along with Burton Abbey and Ælfhelm.[4]
Morcar was a king's thegn (Latin minister) in 1009 when King Æthelred the Unready issued a charter, in which he gave lands to his minister Morcar.[1] The charter shows that he would control the crossings of the River Trent at Weston-on-Trent, Wilne, and King's Mills in Leicestershire. Although not mentioned explicitly, the land described at Weston on Trent included ownership of what is now the villages of Shardlow and Aston-on-Trent.
The river crossings at Weston, King's Mill, and Wilne control one of the main routes for travelers moving up or down England, as this river was a boundary within Mercia. The Domesday book also used the river as a boundary between counties later that century.
The land that Morcar received was listed as eight hides at Weston upon Trent and a hide each at Morley, Smalley, Ingleby, Crich, and Kidsley.[5] This land was given to Morcar, the King's chief minister, and he was given rights that were normally reserved for the King alone. He was given the responsibility for all types of justice and exemption from the Trinoda necessitas. The threefold tax of Trinoda necessitas usually required an obligation on the land to surrender soldiers, to repair fortifications, and to repair bridges.[6] Morcar alone could decide a fate of life or death without the need of the authority of the King or his sheriff.[1] Morcar was given further lands in Derbyshire. In 1011, he was given five hides at what was possibly Mickleover[7] and in 1012, two more at Eckington.[8]
Deathedit
These land grants again came under the control of King Æthelred when Morcar and his brother, Sigeferth, were murdered by Eadric in 1015. Williams speculates that Morcar may have been involved in swinging support in Northumbria behind Sweyn Forkbeard, who was King of Denmark.[9]
King Æthelred seized both Morcar's and Sigeferth's lands and imprisoned Sigeferth's widow, who was called Ealdgyth. King Edmund Ironside then freed the widow and married her. Edmund redistributed some of the lands that had previously belonged to Sigeferth.[10]
Referencesedit
^ abcdCharter of Æthelred, The Great Council, 1009, accessed 8 April 2009
morcar, thegn, morcar, morkere, english, mōrcǣr, died, 1015, thane, minister, king, Æthelred, unready, given, lands, derbyshire, 1009, including, weston, trent, crich, smalley, king, Æthelred, 1011, 1012, also, given, freedom, from, three, common, burdens, bro. Morcar or Morkere Old English Mōrcǣr died 1015 was a thane minister of King AEthelred the Unready He was given lands in Derbyshire in 1009 including Weston on Trent Crich and Smalley by King AEthelred 1 in 1011 2 and 1012 He was also given the freedom from the three common burdens 1 He and his brother were executed in 1015 Morcar s brother s wife was later married to King Edmund Ironside WestonCrichMorleyInglebySmalleyclass notpageimage Morcar was given land in Derbyshire in 1009 For the earl of Northumbria see Morcar Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 References 4 Primary sources 5 Secondary sources 6 External linksBiography editMorcar was the son of Earngrim according to John of Worcester 3 and his brother was Sigeferth He was mentioned in the will of Wulfric Spot brother of AElfhelm and son of Wulfrun In 1004 when Wulfric died he made Morcar a major beneficiary along with Burton Abbey and AElfhelm 4 Morcar was a king s thegn Latin minister in 1009 when King AEthelred the Unready issued a charter in which he gave lands to his minister Morcar 1 The charter shows that he would control the crossings of the River Trent at Weston on Trent Wilne and King s Mills in Leicestershire Although not mentioned explicitly the land described at Weston on Trent included ownership of what is now the villages of Shardlow and Aston on Trent The river crossings at Weston King s Mill and Wilne control one of the main routes for travelers moving up or down England as this river was a boundary within Mercia The Domesday book also used the river as a boundary between counties later that century The land that Morcar received was listed as eight hides at Weston upon Trent and a hide each at Morley Smalley Ingleby Crich and Kidsley 5 This land was given to Morcar the King s chief minister and he was given rights that were normally reserved for the King alone He was given the responsibility for all types of justice and exemption from the Trinoda necessitas The threefold tax of Trinoda necessitas usually required an obligation on the land to surrender soldiers to repair fortifications and to repair bridges 6 Morcar alone could decide a fate of life or death without the need of the authority of the King or his sheriff 1 Morcar was given further lands in Derbyshire In 1011 he was given five hides at what was possibly Mickleover 7 and in 1012 two more at Eckington 8 Death editThese land grants again came under the control of King AEthelred when Morcar and his brother Sigeferth were murdered by Eadric in 1015 Williams speculates that Morcar may have been involved in swinging support in Northumbria behind Sweyn Forkbeard who was King of Denmark 9 King AEthelred seized both Morcar s and Sigeferth s lands and imprisoned Sigeferth s widow who was called Ealdgyth King Edmund Ironside then freed the widow and married her Edmund redistributed some of the lands that had previously belonged to Sigeferth 10 References edit a b c d Charter of AEthelred The Great Council 1009 accessed 8 April 2009 Charter Morcar 2 Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Retrieved 21 April 2009 headnote Williams AEthelred the Unready p 74 75 Kidsley is no longer a place in Derbyshire but translations give this as Kidsleygrange Both of these names appear on properties today near Heanor The English Peasantry and the Growth of Lordship Rosamund Faith p95 ISBN 0 7185 0204 3 accessed 17 April 2009 1011 agreement re Mickleover anglo saxons net accessed 8 April 2009 Agreement re Eckington 1012 anglo saxon net accessed 8 April 2009 Williams AEthelred the Unready p 120 These are charters S 947 Williams AEthelred p 134 amp note 13 Primary sources editAnglo Saxon Charters S 922 AD 1009 Archive Burton Abbey Available from anglo saxons net and The British Academy S 924 AD 1011 Archive Burton Abbey S 1536 AD 1002 x 1004 will of Wulfric Archive Burton Abbey S 1503 AD 1014 will of AEthelstan the aetheling Archive Christ Church Canterbury and Old Minster Winchester Secondary sources editWilliams Ann 2003 AEthelred the Unready The Ill Counselled King London ISBN 1 85285 382 4 Faith Rosamund J 1997 The English Peasantry and the Growth of Lordship London External links editMorcar 2 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morcar thegn amp oldid 1146543277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
