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Earl Morkere? - c.1088 |
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The younger son of Earl Algar of Mercia and Aelfgyfu. His older brother, Edwin, succeeded to the earldom upon on their father's death in 1062. In 1065, Tostig Godwinsson, Harold's younger brother, was overthrown as the Earl of Northumbria due to his poor treatment of clergy and churches throughout the area. The northern nobles elected Morkere to replace Tostig and an army made up of Morkere, Edwin, and men who lived in the former Danelaw began to march south. At Northhampton, they considered peace proposals from Earl Harold Godwinson and eventually negotiations proved fruitful and Harold and King Edward accepted Morkere as the Earl of Northumbria. Morkere and Edwin supported Harold following Edward's death, although Harold had to negotiate for their support. Tostig, meanwhile, continued to attack the English coast to regain his lands and allied himself with Harald Hardraada of Norway. When Tostig and Harald attacked Northumbria, Morkere seems to have ignored them until they got too close to his base in York, at which time, he and Edwin gave battle and were defeated, losing York to Tostig and Harald. Harold rode north and defeated Harald and Tostig at Stamford Bridge. Ungrateful for this rescue, and having already given all their required service to the king, Edwin and Morkere failed to join Harold against the Normans at Hastings. In After Hastings, Edwin has died in battle and Morkere has taken his role as Earl of Mercia. Not entirely trusting of his brother-in-law, King Harold, Morkere uses his sister, Edith, Harold's wife, to gain information about the court. Harold knows Morkere resents him and throws him a bone occasionally, including an important mission to Scotland, but never fully trusts his brother-in-law. Morkere has an underlying sense of insecurity, especially since he has lost his brother, and frequently seeks advice from Alfgar, despite his father's death several years earlier. In the real world, after Harold was defeated at Hastings, Edwin and Morkere hurried to London to try to have one of them declared King of England, although in the end they supported the election of Edgar Aetheling. Upon meeting William on the field, they agreed to support William's claim to the throne and William confirmed their positions as Earls of the North. They rebelled against William in 1068, but the rebellion collapsed when the brothers returned to William's side. Another falling out with William following Edwin's death in 1071 meant he was about to be arrested, but Morkere fled, eventually surrendering to William and being remanded to the custody of Roger de Beaumont until William's death, when William set many of his enemies free. William's son, William Rufus, however, quickly imprisoned Morkere in 1087 and he likely died in prison. |
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