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, Anglo-Scandinavian and early Anglo-Norman period in England. The ealdordom was a successor of the Norse Kingdom of York. In the seventh century, the Anglo-Saxo ...

.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 an Anglo-Saxon saint of the early Northumbrian church in the Celtic tradition. He was a monk, bishop and hermit, associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Nort ...

.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 the Anglican bishop responsible for 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 has been the Bishop of Durham ...

. 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 usually held to be the author of the ''Chronicon ex chronicis''. ''Chronicon ex chronicis'' The ''Chronicon ex chronicis'' is a world wi ...

, 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 Eadulf Rus ( fl. 1080) was an 11th-century Northumbrian noble, and the first recorded 'of Swinton'. He was either the son or grandson of Gospatric (son of Uhtred the Bold), possibly the man who soon after Christmas 1064 was allegedly killed on be ...

at Gateshead 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. Welcher 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. 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 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manus ...

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) ru ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

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 Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near to the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 40 ...

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