Ligulf (sometimes Liulf or Ligulf of Lumley; died 1080) was an Anglo-Danish nobleman with landholdings in the north of England. Ligulf was married to Ealdgyth, the daughter of Ealdred the

earl of Northumbria Earl of Northumbria or Ealdorman of Northumbria was a title in the late Anglo-Saxon England, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian people, Anglo-Scandinavian and early Anglo-Norman England, Anglo-Norman period in England. The ealdordom was a successor of the ...

.Aird "Ligulf" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' Ligulf's mother was a descendant of the earls of Bernicia. Ligulf was noted for his devotion to Saint

Cuthbert Cuthbert of Lindisfarne () ( – 20 March 687) was a saint of the early Northumbrian church in the Hiberno-Scottish mission, Celtic tradition. He was a monk, bishop and hermit, associated with the monastery, monasteries of Melrose Abbey#Histo ...

.Stenton ''Anglo-Saxon England'' p. 613 After the death of Waltheof in 1076, Ligulf was one of the last remaining noblemen in the north with ties to the house of Bamburgh, and he became one of the main advisors to

Walcher Walcher (died 14 May 1080) was the bishop of Durham from 1071,Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 241 a Lotharingian and the first Prince-bishop (appointed by the King, not the Pope). He was the first non-Englishman to hold tha ...

, the

Bishop of Durham The bishop of Durham is head of the diocese of Durham in the province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler (bishop), Paul Butler was the most recent bishop of Durham u ...

. Two of Walcher's other advisors, Leobwin and Gilbert were opposed to Ligulf's advice. According to

John of Worcester John of Worcester (died c. 1140) was an English monk and chronicler who worked at Worcester Priory. He is now usually held to be the author of the . Works John of Worcester's principal work was the (Latin for "Chronicle from Chronicles") or ...

, Leobwin took offence at the manner in which Ligulf replied to Leobwin's opposition to Ligulf's advice to the bishop.Hagger ''William'' pp. 157–158 In April or May 1080 they attacked Ligulf's house in the middle of the night and killed most of the household, including Ligulf. The two men were aided by the bishop's own knights, although it is not clear if Walcher was involved in the plot or not.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 240 Ealdgyth survived Ligulf's death, as Walcher offered her a gift of land to settle the feud. Walcher met Ligulf's surviving family, led by Eadulf Rus at

Gateshead Gateshead () is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, ...

on 14 May 1080, and attempted to persuade them that the bishop had not been involved in the murder. Walcher as both Bishop of Durham and Earl of Northumbria (a position he purchased) was duty bound to protect its people and prosecute crimes. Ligulf's family did not believe the bishop's protests of innocence, especially since Ligulf's murderers, Leobwin and Gilbert, were among Walcher's party. The Northumbrians presented Walcher with a petition of wrongs committed, which Walcher rejected. This enraged the Northumbrians, who then attacked Walcher and his supporters. Walcher and his men sought refuge in a nearby church which was then set afire. Walcher was killed as he fled the burning church, Ligulf's murderers burned to death in the church as did many of Walcher's other men. Ligulf and Ealdgyth had two sons – Morcar and Uhtred. Morcar became a monk at

Jarrow Jarrow ( or ) is a town in South Tyneside in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. Historically in County Durham, it is on the south bank of the River Tyne, about from the east coast. The 2011 census area classed Hebburn and the Boldons as ...

. Uhtred may be the same as the Uhtred recorded in

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

holding a manor at

Rudston Rudston is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Driffield and Bridlington approximately west of Bridlington, and lies on the B1253 road. The Gypsey Race (an intermittent stream) r ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

as a tenant-in-chief of the king. Ligulf may also have had a daughter named Ragnald, as a "Ragnald, daughter of Ligulf" is recorded as granting lands to

Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercians, Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operat ...

in the 1130s. She was married to Robert de Sarz.

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* * * * {{short description, 11th-century Anglo-Danish nobleman 1080s deaths 11th-century English nobility