Morcar of Northumbria (1046-) was the English Earl of Northumbria from 1065 to 1066.
Biography[]
Morcar was born in 1046, the son of Earl Aelfgar of Mercia and the brother of Edwin of Mercia. In 1065, after the Earl of Northumbria Tostig Godwinson was outlawed for his various crimes, Morcar was named the new Earl, and he and Edwin drove Tostig into Scotland and secured Northern England for Morcar. He devolved some local power to Osulf II of Bamburgh to win the support of the locals, and he also recognized Harold Godwinson as King of England on Edward the Confessor's death in 1066. However, he and Edwin were defeated by King Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Fulford, losing York to the invading Vikings. Morcar was jealous of Harold's victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and thus refused to join Harold at the Battle of Hastings, instead waiting until Harold's death before attempting to have himself or his brother named King. Instead, the Witenagemot elevated Edgar the Aetheling to the kingship, and the brothers decided to return to the North, believing that William the Conqueror would not make it there. When William seized the throne, the brothers submitted to him at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and were taken back to Normandy as hostages. In 1068, however, they withdrew from court, returned to their earldoms, and rebelled against William, with Edwin taking the lead this time. However, they quickly submitted to William at Warwick amid the Harrying of the North, and the rebellion came to nothing. In 1071, Morcar again escaped, joining the insurgents in the Fenlands at the Isle of Ely, remaining with them until the uprising was put down. He was imprisoned until 1087, when William had Morcar released. However, he was then taken to England by William II of England and imprisoned once again; he ultimately died in prison.
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