Ælfsige
Archbishop of Canterbury from 958 to 959
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ælfsige (or Aelfsige, Ælfsin[1] or Aelfsin; died 959) was Bishop of Winchester before he became Archbishop of Canterbury in 959.
Ælfsige | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
| Appointed | 958 |
| Term ended | 959 |
| Predecessor | Oda |
| Successor | Byrhthelm |
| Other post | Bishop of Winchester |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 951 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 959 the Italian Alps |
Life
Ælfsige became Bishop of Winchester in 951.[2] In 958, with the death of the previous Archbishop Oda, he was translated from the see of Winchester to become archbishop of Canterbury.[3] He is said by Arthur Hussey to have trampled contemptuously on Oda's grave, "with reproaches for having so long kept himself out of that dignity".[1]
Ælfsige died of cold in the Alps as he journeyed to Rome to be given his pallium by Pope John XII.[4][1] In his place King Eadwig nominated Byrhthelm. Ælfsige's will survives and shows that he was married,[5] with a son, Godwine of Worthy, who died in 1001 fighting against the Vikings.[6]
