Sicga

Sicga (died 22 February 793) (also given as Siga and Sigha) was a nobleman in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria.

Sicga first appears in the historical record as senior lay witness to the proceedings of a council held by Papal Legate, George, Bishop of Ostia in 786, where he is called a "patrician" ("Sigha patricius"), a term which may correspond with the Old English term ealdorman. [Kirby, p. 153; MGH, "Epistolae Karolini aevi (II)", p. 28.]

The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" records the murder of King Ælfwald by Sigca at "Scythlecester" (which may be modern Chesters) on 23 September 788:

This year Elwald, king of the Northumbrians, was slain by Siga, on the eleventh day before the calends of October; and a heavenly light was often seen on the spot where he was slain. He was buried in the church of Hexham [Kirby, pp. 153–154; Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Ms. D, s.a. 789.]

Sicga's death, on 22 February 793, is recorded by the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," and Symeon of Durham adds that he died by suicide. In spite this, and the fact that he was a regicide, Sicga was buried at the monastery of Lindisfarne. [Yorke, p. 242; Williams, p. 14.]

Notes

References

* Dümmler, Ernst, et al, "Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Epistolae Karolini aevi (II)". Reprinted 1995. ISBN 3-921575-70-2 (etext online at [http://www.dmgh.de Digital MGH] )
* Kirby, D.P., "The Earliest English Kings." London: Unwin Hyman, 1991. ISBN 0-04-445691-3
* Williams, Ann, Smyth, Alfred P. & Kirby, D.P., "A Biographical Dictionary of Dark-Age Britain: England, Scotland and Wales c. 500-c. 1050." London: Seaby, 1991. ISBN 1-85264-047-2
* Yorke, Barbara, "The Conversion of Britain: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain c. 600–800." London: Longman, 2006. ISBN 0-582-77292-3