Sigeric

Life

Sigeric (also known as Siric or Serio) was archbishop of Canterbury from AD989 until his death in AD994. There is a short biography of him on David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History website. The sculpture shown on this page is by Heather Burnley and is in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey; there is a full photo on Glastonbury Photo Library site.

Manuscripts

Sigeric's journey back from Rome after receiving his pallium (either AD989 or AD990) is recorded in a manuscript (for transcription see separate page) in the British Library. The manuscript forms part of the Cotton collection: Tiberius B.v., folios 34 and 35. The appropriate page of the British Library's online MS catalogue is available here. There is additional information on the Cotton MSS at Sheffield University; this page is for Tiberius.

Sigeric is also mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. These are the references from the Ingham translation, widely available on the web (for example, downloadable copy at Project Gutenberg):

989

Siric was this year invested archbishop, and went afterwards to Rome after his pall.

991

In this same year it was resolved that tribute should be given, for the first time, to the Danes, for the great terror they occasioned by the sea-coast. That was first 10,000 pounds. The first who advised this measure was Archbishop Siric.

993

This year came Anlaf with three and ninety ships to Staines, which he plundered without, and went thence to Sandwich. Thence to Ipswich, which he laid waste; and so to Maidon, where Alderman Britnoth came against him with his force, and fought with him; and there they slew the alderman, and gained the field of battle; whereupon peace was made with him, and the king received him afterwards at episcopal hands by the advice of Siric, Bishop of Canterbury, and Elfeah of Winchester.

993

And after that peace was made with them; and him (Anlaf) the king afterwards received at the bishop's hands, through the instruction of Siric, bishop of the Kentish-men, and of Aelphege of Winchester.

994

This year died Archbishop Siric: and Elfric, Bishop of Wiltshire, was chosen on Easter-day, at Amesbury, by King Ethelred and all his council.

I have not found a complete set of the original Anglo-Saxon texts on the web, but 5 of the original MSS are at Tony Jebson's site.

Peter Robins