Elgiva of Northampton ^{1 2 3}

   Another name for Elgiva was AElfgifu.

  General Notes:

"... Canute was left in charge of the fleet at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and it was probably then that he met Aelfgifu, daughter of an ealdorman (chief officer) of Northumbria who had been murdered with King Aethelred II's connivance in 1006; she bore him two sons, Sweyn and Harold. ..."

Regent Dowager Queen Alfiva
Also known as Lady Ælfgify of Northamton she was regent for her, and Knud the Great's son, King Svend of Norway. Her rule there was extremely harsh, and her reputation for tyrannical cruelty was unparalleled, eventually provoking an uprising which removed her from power in 1035. When Knud died she returned to England, and persuaded the nobles to recognize her other son Harold 'Harefoot' as King in 1037 but no records of her from then on have been found.

Elgiva married Knud I Svendsson den Mektige of Denmark, son of Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark and Gunhild Mieczyslavsdatter of Poland. (Knud I Svendsson den Mektige of Denmark was born circa 995-1000,⁴ died on 12 Nov 1035 in Shaftesbury and was buried in Winchester, Hampshire, England.)