Edwin, Earl of Mercia
Edwin (died
1070) was the elder brother of
Morcar, Earl of Northumbria, son of
Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and nephew of
Hereward. He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on Ælfgar's death in
1062. He appears as Earl Edwin in the
Domesday Book.
His younger brother,
Morcar was elected Earl of
Northumbria when
Tostig Godwinson was ejected by the Northumbrians (
October 3 1065). Invading what is now Yorkshire in September, 1066,
Harald Hardrada and Tostig defeated the English earls Edwin and Morcar at the
Battle of Fulford near
York (September 20), but were in turn defeated and slain by
Harold Godwinson's army, five days later at the
Battle of Stamford Bridge (
September 25).
In
1068, Edwin and Morcar were defeated by
William at York. Edwin was the last of the
Anglo-Saxon earls of
Mercia, being killed early in the
Fenland campaign of 1070-71, against William the Conqueror's takeover of
England (including his and his family's property).
Edwin's sister, Edith, had been married to Harold Godwinson until the latter's death at
Hastings on
October 14 1066.
Edwin's lands centred at Gilling in his brother's Northumbrian earldom, were given to Alan of
Brittany in
1071 and the district was renamed to
Richmondshire.
