Earl of East Anglia

The Earls of East Anglia were governors of East Anglia during the 11th century. The post was established by Cnut in 1017 and disappeared following Ralph Guader's participation in the failed Revolt of the Earls in 1075.

Ealdormen of East Anglia

Until 917 East Anglia was a kingdom, which from 870 was under Danish control. In that year the East Anglian Danes submitted to King Edward the Elder and East Anglia became part of the expanding Kingdom of England. It is not clear who was placed in charge there, but it is probable that the Ealdorman Æthelfrith of south east Mercia may have been granted authority over the newly restored area by Edward.^[1] He died in c.927^[2] and was succeeded by his son, Æthelstan Half-King, a very powerful aristocrat who ruled an extensive territory and witnessed numerous charters from 932, and whose family remained powerful in the area.^[3]

Danish, English and Norman Earls

Following Cnut's conquest of England in 1016, in the following year he divided the kingdom into a few large administrative regions governed by earls, which followed the territorial outlines of the former kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia, roughly as they had existed in the mid-9th century. However, the exact outlines of these earldoms varied over the decades, while other, more transitory earldoms were created for particular individuals. The core of the earldom of East Anglia comprised Norfolk and Suffolk, while other shires such as Essex, Middlesex and Cambridgeshire were also included within it at various times. The first Earl of East Anglia was Thorkell the Tall, appointed in 1017. Thorkell and his family were outlawed by Canute in 1021, only to be pardoned again in 1023. His immediate successors are unknown.

The native English dynasty was restored with the accession of King Edward the Confessor in 1042. During his reign East Anglia, smaller than the other three original earldoms and not containing the power-base of any of the tiny handful of families which then dominated English politics, became a posting held by younger members of two of these great families. By 1045 the earldom was in the hands of Harold, the second son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. In 1051 Godwin and his sons were driven into exile and their earldoms assigned to others; East Anglia went to Ælfgar, son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. However, in 1052 Godwin and his sons returned in force to England and regained their former positions. When Godwin died in 1053 Harold was appointed Earl of Wessex in his place, and he was again replaced in East Anglia by Ælfgar. In 1055 Ælfgar was outlawed and driven into exile, but within the year he had regained his former position. He too went on to greater things in 1057, when his father Leofric died and Ælfgar was appointed Earl of Mercia in his stead. The earldom of East Anglia was then assigned to Gyrth, one of Harold's younger brothers, who held it until his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Following the Norman Conquest of England, William the Conqueror appointed Ralph the Staller, an aristocrat of Breton ancestry born in Norfolk, to the earldom. On his death he was replaced by his son Ralph Guader, who was one of the leaders of a rebellion against William, known as the Revolt of the Earls, in 1075. With the failure of this uprising Ralph fled to his lands in Brittany and no successor was appointed (though many of Ralph's possessions passed to the great Breton magnate Alan Rufus). Later earldoms created in the region were on a smaller scale. This was in keeping with developments elsewhere in the country. Whereas in the mid-eleventh century England had been administered through a handful of large earldoms covering the entire country, under the Norman kings earldoms were soon reduced to units covering only a single shire, found only in some parts of the kingdom, and before long they had become essentially honorific titles rather than positions of real governmental power.

List of ealdormen and earls

English ealdormen of East Anglia
From	Until	Incumbent	Citation(s)	Notes
930	931	Ælfred	[4]
932	956	Æthelstan Half-King	[4]
957	962	Æthelwald	[4]
962	992	Æthelwine	[4]
993	1002	Leofsige	[4]

Danish earls of East Anglia
From	Until	Incumbent	Citation(s)	Notes
1017	1021	Thorkell the Tall	[4]
? c. 1026	1044 or 1045	Osgod Clapa *	[4]	* Uncertain[4]

English earls of East Anglia
From	Until	Incumbent	Citation(s)	Notes
1044 or 1045	1051	Harold Godwinson	[4]
1051	1052	Ælfgar	[4]
1052	1053	Harold Godwinson	[4]
1053	1057	Ælfgar	[4]
1057		Gyrth Godwinson	[4]

Norman earls of East Anglia
From	Until	Incumbent	Citation(s)	Notes
1067	1069	Radulf the Staller	[4]
c. 1069	1075	Radulf de Gael	[4]

Family tree

v t e  Family tree of the Dukes of Norfolk; Earls of Arundel, East Anglia, Norfolk, Norwich, Nottingham, and Surrey; and Barons Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton

Earl of East Anglia (Earls of Norfolk and Suffolk) (1st creation), before 1069 Ralph the Staller (c. 1011–1068) 1st Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles c. 1066/67–1068 Ralph de Gael (c. 1040 – c. 1096) 2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles until 1074 Earldom forfeit, 1074 Earl of Norfolk (2nd creation), 1141 Hugh Bigod (1095–1177) 1st Earl of Norfolk 1141–1177 Roger Bigod (c. 1144/1150–1221) 2nd Earl of Norfolk 1189–1221 (disputed 1177–1189) Hugh Bigod (1186–1225) 3rd Earl of Norfolk 1221–1225 Baron Segrave of Se(a)grave, 1283 Nicholas Segrave (c. 1238–bef. 1295) 1st Baron Segrave Roger Bigod (c. 1209–1270) 4th Earl of Norfolk 1233–1270 Hugh Bigod (c. 1211–1266) Baron Mowbray, 1283 John Segrave (c. 1256–1325) 2nd Baron Segrave King Edward I (1239–1307) Roger de Mowbray (1254–1297) 1st Baron Mowbray Roger Bigod (c. 1245–1306) 5th Earl of Norfolk 1270–1306 Earldom extinct, 1270 Earl of Norfolk (3rd creation), 1312 Stephen Segrave (d. 1325) 3rd Baron Segrave Thomas of Brotherton (1300–1338) 1st Earl of Norfolk 1312–1338 John Mowbray (1286–1322) 2nd Baron Mowbray John Segrave (1315–1353) 4th Baron Segrave Margaret of Brotherton (1320–1399) 2nd Countess of Norfolk 1338–1399, Duchess of Norfolk "for life" 1397–1399 John Mowbray (1310–1361) 3rd Baron Mowbray Elizabeth de Segrave (1338–1368) 5th Baroness Segrave John de Mowbray (1340–1368) 4th Baron Mowbray Earl of Nottingham (1st creation), 1377 Earl of Nottingham (2nd creation), 1383 Duke of Norfolk (1st creation), 1397 John de Mowbray (1365–1383) 1st Earl of Nottingham, 6th Baron Segrave, 5th Baron Mowbray Thomas de Mowbray (1366–1399) 1st Duke of Norfolk 1397–1399, 3rd Earl of Norfolk 1399, 7th Baron Segrave, 6th Baron Mowbray Earldom of Nottingham extinct, 1383 Titles forfeit, 1399 Baron Stourton, 1448 Duke of Norfolk (1st creation restored), 1425 John Stourton (1400–1462) 1st Baron Stourton, 1448–1462 Thomas de Mowbray (1385–1405) 4th Earl of Norfolk, 8th Baron Segrave, 7th Baron Mowbray 1399–1405 John de Mowbray (1392–1432) 2nd Duke of Norfolk 1425–1432, 5th Earl of Norfolk, 9th Baron Segrave, 8th Baron Mowbray 1405–1432 Margaret de Mowbray (c. 1388–1459) Robert Howard (1385–1436) Isabel de Mowbray (c. 1400–1452) James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley (c. 1394–1463) Duke of Norfolk (4th creation), 1483 William Stourton (before 1426–1478) 2nd Baron Stourton, 1462–1478 John de Mowbray (1415–1461) 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 6th Earl of Norfolk, 10th Baron Segrave, 9th Baron Mowbray 1432–1461 John Howard (1425–1485) 1st Duke of Norfolk, 13th Baron Segrave, 12th Baron Mowbray 1483–1485 Titles forfeit, 1485 Earl of Surrey and Warenne (2nd creation), 1451 Duke of Norfolk (4th creation) restored and Earl of Surrey, 1514 John Stourton (c. 1454–1485) 3rd Baron Stourton, 1479–1485 William Stourton (c. 1457–1524) 5th Baron Stourton, 1487–1524 John de Mowbray (1444–1476) 4th Duke of Norfolk, 7th Earl of Norfolk, Earl of Surrey and Warenne, 11th Baron Segrave, 10th Baron Mowbray 1461–1476 King Edward IV (1442–1483) Thomas Howard (1443–1524) 2nd Duke of Norfolk, 1st Earl of Surrey 1514–1524 Dukedom of Norfolk, Earldom of Nottingham, Earldom of Surrey and Warenne extinct, 1476 Duke of Norfolk (3rd creation), Earl of Nottingham (3rd creation), and Earl of Warenne, 1477 Francis Stourton (1485–1487) 4th Baron Stourton, 1485–1487 Edward Stourton (1463–1535) 6th Baron Stourton, 1524–1535 Anne de Mowbray (1472–1481) 8th Countess of Norfolk, 12th Baroness Segrave, 11th Baroness Mowbray 1476–1481 Richard of Shrewsbury (1473–1483) Duke of York, Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Warenne 1477–1483 Anne of York (1475–1511) Thomas Howard (1473–1554) 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 2nd Earl of Surrey 1524–1554 Edmund Howard (c. 1478–1539) Elizabeth Boleyn (c. 1480–1538) Earldom of Norfolk extinct and Baronies Segrave and Mowbray in abeyance, 1481 Dukedom of Norfolk, Earldom of Nottingham, Earldom of Warenne extinct, 1483 Attainted, 1547 Restored, 1553 William Stourton (c. 1505–1548) 7th Baron Stourton Earl of Nottingham (5th creation), 1525 King Henry VIII (1491–1547) Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507–1536) Charles Stourton (c. 1520–1557) 8th Baron Stourton Henry Howard (1517–1547) styled Earl of Surrey Thomas Howard (c. 1520–1582) Viscount Howard of Bindon Mary FitzRoy (1519–1557) Henry FitzRoy (1519–1536) Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Earl of Nottingham Catherine Howard (c. 1524–1542) Earldom of Nottingham extinct, 1536 Thomas Howard (1536–1572) 4th Duke of Norfolk, 3rd Earl of Surrey, 13th Baron Mowbray 1554–1572 Henry Howard (1540–1614) Earl of Northampton Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) Dukedom (3rd creation) forfeit, 1572 Earl of Arundel (3rd creation), 1580 Earl of Suffolk (4th creation), 1603 John Stourton (1553–1588) 9th Baron Stourton Edward Stourton (c. 1555–1633) 10th Baron Stourton Philip Howard (1557–1595) 20th/13th/1st Earl of Arundel, styled Earl of Surrey Thomas Howard (1561–1626) Earl of Suffolk Lord William Howard (1563–1640) Earldom of Arundel and Barony of Mowbray attainted, 1589 see Earls, Marquesses, and Dukes of Suffolk family tree Earl of Arundel (3rd creation) and Barony of Mowbray restored, 1604 Earl of Norfolk (5th creation), 1644 William Stourton (c. 1594–1672) 11th Baron Stourton Thomas Howard (1585–1646) 21st/14th/2nd Earl of Arundel, 2nd/4th Earl of Surrey, 1st Earl of Norfolk, 14th Baron Mowbray 1644–1646 see Earls of Shrewsbury family tree Edward Stourton (1617–1644) Henry Frederick Howard (1608–1652) 22nd/15th/3rd Earl of Arundel, 3rd/5th Earl of Surrey, 2nd Earl of Norfolk, 15th Baron Mowbray 1646–1652 Alethea Howard 1585–1654 17th Baroness Strange of Blackmere, 14th Baroness Talbot, 13th Baroness Furnivall Duke of Norfolk (4th creation restored), 1660 Baron Howard of Castle Rising, 1669 Earl of Norwich (3rd creation), 1672 William Stourton (d. 1685) 12th Baron Stourton Thomas Howard (1627–1677) 5th Duke of Norfolk, 21st/14th/2nd Earl of Arundel, 4th/6th Earl of Surrey, 16th Baron Mowbray 1660–1677 18th Baron Strange of Blackmere, 15th Baron Talbot, 14th Baron Furnivall 1654–1677 Henry Howard (1628–1684) 6th Duke of Norfolk, 22nd/15th/3rd Earl of Arundel, 5th/7th Earl of Surrey, 1st Earl of Norwich and Baron Howard of Castle Rising, 18th Baron Strange of Blackmere, 17th Baron Mowbray, 15th Baron Talbot, 14th Baron Furnivall 1672–1684 Hon. Charles Howard (1630–1713) Col. Bernard Howard (1641–1717) Edward Stourton (1665–1720) 13th Baron Stourton Thomas Stourton (1667–1744) 14th Baron Stourton Charles Stourton (1669–1739) Henry Howard (1655–1701) 7th Duke of Norfolk, 22nd/15th/3rd Earl of Arundel, 5th/7th Earl of Surrey, 2nd Earl of Norwich and Baron Howard of Castle Rising, 18th Baron Mowbray, 19th Baron Strange of Blackmere, 15th Baron Talbot, 14th Baron Furnivall, 1684–1701 Lord Thomas Howard (1662–1689) Henry Charles Howard (d. 1720) Thomas Howard (1683–1732) 8th Duke of Norfolk, 23rd/16th/4th Earl of Arundel, 6th/8th Earl of Surrey, 3rd Earl of Norwich and Baron Howard of Castle Rising, 18th Baron Strange of Blackmere, 15th Baron Talbot, 14th Baron Furnivall, 19th Baron Mowbray 1701–1732 Edward Howard (1685–1777) 9th Duke of Norfolk, 24th/17th/5th Earl of Arundel, 7th/9th Earl of Surrey, 4th Earl of Norwich and Baron Howard of Castle Rising, 20th Baron Mowbray, 20th Baron Strange of Blackmere, 15th Baron Talbot, 14th Baron Furnivall 1732–1777 Philip Howard (1688–1750) Bernard Howard (1674–1735) Earldom of Norwich (3rd creation) and Barony of Howard of Castle Rising extinct and Baronies of Furnivall, Mowbray, Segrave, Strange of Blackmere, and Talbot abeyant, 1777 Charles Stourton (1702–1753) 15th Baron Stourton William Stourton (1704–1781) 16th Baron Stourton Winifred Howard (1726–1753) Anne Howard (1742–1787) Charles Howard (1720–1786) 10th Duke of Norfolk, 25th/18th/6th Earl of Arundel, 8th/10th Earl of Surrey 1777–1786 Henry Howard (1713–1787) Charles Philip Stourton (1752–1816) 17th Baron Stourton Charles Howard (1746–1815) 11th Duke of Norfolk, 26th/19th/7th Earl of Arundel, 9th/11th Earl of Surrey 1786–1815 William Stourton (1776–1846) 18th Baron Stourton Bernard Howard (1765–1842) 12th Duke of Norfolk, 27th/20th/8th Earl of Arundel, 10th/12th Earl of Surrey 1815–1842 Charles Stourton (1802–1872) 19th Baron Stourton Henry Howard (1791–1856) 13th Duke of Norfolk, 28th/21st/9th Earl of Arundel, 11th/13th Earl of Surrey 1842–1856 Baron Mowbray and Baron Segrave abeayance restored, 1878 Baron Howard of Glossop Alfred Joseph Stourton (1829–1893) 24th Baron Segrave, 21st/23rd Baron Mowbray, 20th Baron Stourton Henry Granville Fitzalan-Howard (1815–1860) 14th Duke of Norfolk, 29th/22nd/10th Earl of Arundel, 12th/14th Earl of Surrey 1856–1860 Edward George Fitzalan-Howard (1818–1883) 1st Baron Howard of Glossop Charles Botolph Joseph Stourton (1867–1936) 25th Baron Segrave, 22nd/24th Baron Mowbray, 21st Baron Stourton Henry Fitzalan-Howard (1847–1917) 15th Duke of Norfolk, 30th/23rd/11th Earl of Arundel, 13th/15th Earl of Surrey, Lord Maltravers, Earl of Arundel and Surrey 1860–1917 Francis Fitzalan-Howard (1859–1924) 2nd Baron Howard of Glossop William Marmaduke Stourton (1895–1965) 26th Baron Segrave, 23rd/25th Baron Mowbray, 22nd Baron Stourton Bernard Fitzalan-Howard (1908–1975) 16th Duke of Norfolk, 31st/24th/12th Earl of Arundel, 14th/16th Earl of Surrey 1917–1975 Bernard Fitzalan-Howard (1885–1972) 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop Charles Edward Stourton (1923–2006) 27th Baron Segrave, 24th/26th Baron Mowbray, 23rd Baron Stourton Miles Fitzalan-Howard (1915–2002) 17th Duke of Norfolk, 32nd/25th/13th Earl of Arundel, 15th/17th Earl of Surrey, 4th Baron Howard of Glossop 1975–2002 Edward William Stephen Stourton (1953–2021) 28th Baron Segrave, 25th/27th Baron Mowbray, 24th Baron Stourton Edward Fitzalan-Howard (b. 1956) 18th Duke of Norfolk, 33rd/26th/14th Earl of Arundel, 16th/18th Earl of Surrey, 5th Baron Howard of Glossop from 2002 James Charles Peter Stourton (b. 1991) 29th Baron Segrave, 26th/28th Baron Mowbray, 25th Baron Stourton Henry Fitzalan-Howard (b. 1987) styled Earl of Arundel and Surrey

References

1. Walker, Ian W. Mercia and the making of England Sutton 2000 ISBN 0-7509-2131-5 p130
2. Aemyers Genealogy: Earl Athelfrith Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
3. "Æthelstan 26". Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
4. Cyril Hart, The Danelaw, London (1992), p. 195, table 5.2