UlfcytelSnillingr, or Snylling, (died 1016) was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman. He was apparently the ealdorman of East Anglia from 1004 to his death at the Battle of Ashingdon in 1016, although he is not called an ealdorman in any of the charters he witnessed. Scandinavian sources refer to him as Ulfkell Snillingr, the byname meaning bold.
Leofsige, ealdorman of Essex, was exiled for killing a shire reeve in 1002. It is not certain that any ealdorman was appointed by King Æthelred the Unready to replace Leofsige, although John of Worcester's chronicle calls Ulfcytel the dux—war leader—of the East Anglians, and he appears as leader of the East Anglians on several occasions.
It may be that Ulfcytel was married to a daughter of King Æthelred (by his first wife) named Wulfhild, as suggested by a supplementary text to the Jómsvíkinga saga.[1] From 1004 onwards he witnessed a large number of King Æthelred's charters, being described in these as a minister, that is thegn, rather than an ealdorman.
Ulfcytel's name is of Scandinavian origin, but no details of his family are known. It is possible that he was in some way related to the family or affinity of Æthelstan Half-King which had dominated politics in East Anglia and Essex from the 930s to the 990s. In addition to the English sources, Ulfcytel also appears as a character in Saint Olaf's saga in the Heimskringla, and here East Anglia is called "Ulfcytel's land".
Military career 1004-1016edit
In 1004 the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports a bloody battle between the East Anglians and an army led by Danish king Swein Forkbeard. The Chronicle states that Ulfcytel and the "councillors in East Anglia" attempted to buy a truce with Swein, but that the Danes broke the truce and marched to Thetford where a part of the East Anglian fyrd engaged them. The battle seems to have been a draw as the Danes managed to escape. Two of the Chronicle manuscripts state that the Danes later "admitted that they had never met with harder hand-play [fighting] in England than Ulfcytel gave them". The Danes suffered heavy losses, and were probably only saved from destruction because Ulfcytel's order to destroy their ships was not carried out. They left England without causing any further devastation which has been recorded.[2]
On his next appearance in the Chronicle again Ulfyctel is portrayed as the leader of the East Anglian armies. On this occasion the Battle of Ringmere against the Danes near Ipswich in 1010 turned into a rout, caused by the flight of Thurcytel "Mare's head", and only the men of Cambridgeshire stood to fight. The English dead included the King's brother-in-law, the son-in-law and grandson of ealdorman Byrhtnoth, "and countless people".
Ulfcytel's third and last appearance in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is at the battle of Assandun on 18 October 1016 where he fought for Edmund Ironside. Here he was killed; he is listed among "the chief men of the nation" by the Chronicle. According to one Scandinavian source he was killed by Thorkell the Tall, who married his widow. Thorkell may well have married one of Æthelred's widowed daughters although it is far from certain that he married Wulfhild. Alternatively, and less plausibly, Saint Olaf's Saga states that Ulfcytel was killed by Eiríkr Hákonarson near London.
Fryde, E. et al. Handbook of British Chronology. 3d ed. Cambridge, 1996.
Henson, Donald, A Guide to Late Anglo-Saxon England: From Ælfred to Eadgar II. Anglo-Saxon Books, 1998. ISBN1-898281-21-1
Higham, Nick, The Death of Anglo-Saxon England. Sutton, 1997. ISBN0-7509-2469-1
Stafford, Pauline, Unification and Conquest: A Political and Social History of England in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries. London: Edward Arnold, 1989. ISBN0-7131-6532-4
Swanton, Michael, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. New York: Routledge, 1998. ISBN0-415-92129-5
January 01, 1970
ulfcytel, snillingr, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, october, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, message, snylli. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Ulfcytel Snillingr or Snylling died 1016 was an Anglo Saxon nobleman He was apparently the ealdorman of East Anglia from 1004 to his death at the Battle of Ashingdon in 1016 although he is not called an ealdorman in any of the charters he witnessed Scandinavian sources refer to him as Ulfkell Snillingr the byname meaning bold Contents 1 Background and status 2 Military career 1004 1016 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBackground and status editLeofsige ealdorman of Essex was exiled for killing a shire reeve in 1002 It is not certain that any ealdorman was appointed by King AEthelred the Unready to replace Leofsige although John of Worcester s chronicle calls Ulfcytel the dux war leader of the East Anglians and he appears as leader of the East Anglians on several occasions It may be that Ulfcytel was married to a daughter of King AEthelred by his first wife named Wulfhild as suggested by a supplementary text to the Jomsvikinga saga 1 From 1004 onwards he witnessed a large number of King AEthelred s charters being described in these as a minister that is thegn rather than an ealdorman Ulfcytel s name is of Scandinavian origin but no details of his family are known It is possible that he was in some way related to the family or affinity of AEthelstan Half King which had dominated politics in East Anglia and Essex from the 930s to the 990s In addition to the English sources Ulfcytel also appears as a character in Saint Olaf s saga in the Heimskringla and here East Anglia is called Ulfcytel s land Military career 1004 1016 editIn 1004 the Anglo Saxon Chronicle reports a bloody battle between the East Anglians and an army led by Danish king Swein Forkbeard The Chronicle states that Ulfcytel and the councillors in East Anglia attempted to buy a truce with Swein but that the Danes broke the truce and marched to Thetford where a part of the East Anglian fyrd engaged them The battle seems to have been a draw as the Danes managed to escape Two of the Chronicle manuscripts state that the Danes later admitted that they had never met with harder hand play fighting in England than Ulfcytel gave them The Danes suffered heavy losses and were probably only saved from destruction because Ulfcytel s order to destroy their ships was not carried out They left England without causing any further devastation which has been recorded 2 On his next appearance in the Chronicle again Ulfyctel is portrayed as the leader of the East Anglian armies On this occasion the Battle of Ringmere against the Danes near Ipswich in 1010 turned into a rout caused by the flight of Thurcytel Mare s head and only the men of Cambridgeshire stood to fight The English dead included the King s brother in law the son in law and grandson of ealdorman Byrhtnoth and countless people Ulfcytel s third and last appearance in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle is at the battle of Assandun on 18 October 1016 where he fought for Edmund Ironside Here he was killed he is listed among the chief men of the nation by the Chronicle According to one Scandinavian source he was killed by Thorkell the Tall who married his widow Thorkell may well have married one of AEthelred s widowed daughters although it is far from certain that he married Wulfhild Alternatively and less plausibly Saint Olaf s Saga states that Ulfcytel was killed by Eirikr Hakonarson near London Notes edit Handbook of British Chronology p 27 Frank Stenton Anglo Saxon England Third Edition Oxford University Press 1971 pp 380 1References editUlfcytel 3 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Retrieved 2007 11 25 Fryde E et al Handbook of British Chronology 3d ed Cambridge 1996 Henson Donald A Guide to Late Anglo Saxon England From AElfred to Eadgar II Anglo Saxon Books 1998 ISBN 1 898281 21 1 Higham Nick The Death of Anglo Saxon England Sutton 1997 ISBN 0 7509 2469 1 Stafford Pauline Unification and Conquest A Political and Social History of England in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries London Edward Arnold 1989 ISBN 0 7131 6532 4 Swanton Michael The Anglo Saxon Chronicle New York Routledge 1998 ISBN 0 415 92129 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ulfcytel Snillingr amp oldid 1144167687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
