Godwin's son Sweyn had died on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and it was probably at this stage that Ralph, later called Ralph the Timid, whose mother was Godgifu, the daughter of King Æthelred the Unready and his second wife Emma, was given Sweyn's earldom of Hereford, which includes Oxfordshire.
Ælfgar, the son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, by his well-known wife—another Godgifu (Lady Godiva)—had gained in 1051 from the exile of Earl Godwin of Wessex and his sons.
He had been given the Earldom of East Anglia, which had been that of Harold, son of Godwin.
After Earl Godwin and King Edward became reconciled the following year, Harold had been restored to his earldom—but not for long.
When Godwin died in Easter 1053, Harold had succeeded to the earldom of Wessex, and the earldom of East Anglia had returned to Ælfgar.
Ælfgar seems to have learned from the tactics Godwin used to put pressure on King Edward.
When he is himself exiled in 1055, he raises a fleet of eighteen ships in Ireland, then turns to Wales, where King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn agrees to join forces with him against King Edward.
Two miles from Hereford, on October 24, they clash with the army of the Earl of Herefordshire, Ralph.
The Earl and his men eventually take flight, and Gruffydd and Ælfgar pursues them, killing and wounding as they go, and enacting savage reprisals on Hereford.
They despoil and burn the town, killing many of its citizens.
It will later be claimed that Ralph and his Frenchmen had started the rout, resulting in his insulting nickname, 'The Timid'.
King Edward orders an army mustered and puts Earl Harold in charge of it.
This is more formidable opposition, and Ælfgar and Gruffydd flee to South Wales.
However, the issue is resolved by diplomacy and Earl Ælfgar is reinstated.
