c. 990 – after 1036
House: House of Wessex, House of Knýtlinga
Titles: Regent of Norway
Ælfgifu of Northampton, born around 990, was the first wife of Cnut the Great, King of England and Denmark, and mother to Harold Harefoot, later King of England. She served as regent of Norway between 1030 and 1035. Originating from an influential noble family in Mercia, she was the daughter of Ælfhelm, ealdorman of southern Northumbria, and possibly Wulfrun. Her life was marked by the political machinations and violence of the time, including the murder of her father and the blinding of her brothers.
Her marriage to Cnut was a strategic alliance during Swein Forkbeard’s invasion of England, securing the loyalty of English nobles. Despite Cnut’s subsequent marriage to Emma of Normandy, Ælfgifu’s status remained significant, as evidenced by her appointment as regent in Norway, where her rule was remembered for its harshness. Following Cnut’s death, she played a pivotal role in securing the English throne for her son Harold. Her influence in England’s political landscape during this period was considerable, though her life after 1036 is largely unrecorded.
Death: Ælfgifu's date of death is unknown, but she lived beyond 1036. Her final resting place is not recorded.
Children: Svein Knutsson, Harold Harefoot
Marriages: Cnut the Great
Parents: Father: Ælfhelm, Ealdorman of York. Mother: Possibly Wulfrun.