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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 ( ), a term which may correspond with the Old English term ealdorman. 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. 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 of this, and the fact that he was a regicide, Sicga was buried at the monastery of Lindisfarne.

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Article summary

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 ( ), a term which may correspond with the Old English term ealdorman. 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. 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 of this, and the fact that he was a regicide, Sicga was buried at the monastery of Lindisfarne.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 0793-02-22 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "0793-02-22". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

No sources recorded.

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.