of Bamburgh, High-Reeve of Northumbria Osulf - Oswulf I
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1. of Bamburgh, High-Reeve of Northumbria Osulf - Oswulf I was born in 910 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in 963 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England. Other Events and Attributes:
- Appointments / Titles: Dux of Bebbanburg
- Appointments / Titles: York, Yorkshire, England; Ealdorman
- Appointments / Titles: Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; High-Reeve of Banburgh
- FSID: 9CHN-QKC
Notes:
Osulf is the first man specifically designated "high-reeve" of Bamburgh. High-reeve is Old English heah-gerefa, and is possibly the same as the Scottish 'mormaer' and "High Steward"
Oswulf or Osulf of Bamburgh is believed to have been the son of Eadulf of Bamburgh, the ′King of the Northern English′ who died in 913. This places Oswulf's birth as before 913 in Bamburgh.
The 'De Northumbria post Britannos' records that Oswulf was the father of Ealdred, who was the father of Waltheof of Bamburgh, who was the father of Uhtred of Northumbria.
Osulf was likely born circa 910 and died before 963. His date of death is placed before 963 because it was at this time that his territory of Northumbria was divided between Oslac and Eadulf Evil-child. Oslac and Eadulf Evil-child are believed to be sons of Oswulf as well.
Oswulf was the first man specifically designated "high-reeve" of Bamburgh. Oswulf gained control of all Northumbria after the death of Eric Bloodaxe, King of Northumbria, and is believed to be responsible for the conspiracy that resulted in his death, perhaps at the instigation of King Eadred. Following Eric's death, Eadred of Wessex gained control of Northumbria and Oswulf became his High-reeve or Ealdorman administering Northumbria with King Eadred's consent and overlordship.
It is important to note that his name was spelled both Osulf and Oswulf and Bebbanburg was the Saxon name for Bamburgh, therefor, Osulf of Bebbanburg is the same person as Oswulf of Bamburgh.
Oswulf is often attributed as the father of:
- Eadwulf, Evil-Child
- Oslac of York
- Ealdred of Bamburgh
- Waltheof of Bamburgh*
*Waltheof is reported as both the son and grandson of
Oswulf (son of Ealdred); either relationship is possible.
Someone has noted below that Oswulf's cause of death was lynching, however, the source of this information is not known, and therefore the validity is not known.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osulf_I_of_Bamburgh From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Osulf I of Bamburgh
Born unknown
Died between 954 and 963
Cause of death Lynching
Resting place unknown
Known for Betraying Erik Bloodaxe and being the first recorded High-Reeve of Bamburgh
Title High-Reeve of Bamburgh
Ealdorman of York
Parent(s) unknown
Osulf (fl. 946—54) was high-reeve of Bamburgh and ruler of Northumbria. Sometimes called "earl", he is more surely the first recorded high-reeve of Bamburgh and the man who, after assisting in the death of its last independent ruler Erik Bloodaxe, administered the York-based Kingdom of Northumbria when it was taken over by the Wessex-based King Eadred of England in 954.
Osulf appears at least five times in witness lists for charters, some of which may be genuine, in the years 946, 949, and 950. In 946 and 949 he witnessed charters as "high reeve" In 949 he witnessed an Evesham grant as well as a grant by King Eadred to Canterbury Cathedral as dux.And in 950 an Osulf Bebbanburg is alleged to have witnessed as Eorl.
He is the first man specifically designated "high-reeve" of Bamburgh. High-reeve is Old English heah-gerefa, which Alfred Smyth thought was influenced by the Scottish word mormaer, which possibly has the same meaning ("High Steward"). Judging by the North People's Law, a high-reeve was not the same as an ealdorman (dux), having only half an ealdorman's wergild.
Osulf's origins are unclear. A genealogy in the text De Northumbria post Britannos, recording the ancestry of Waltheof Earl of Northampton (and, briefly, Northumbria), suggests that Osulf was the son of Eadulf of Bamburgh, the ′King of the Northern English′ who died in 913. Richard Fletcher and David Rollason thought he might be the Osulf Dux who had witnessed charters further south in the 930s, which if true would extend Osulf's floruit back to 934.
Though Eadulf and Ealdred appear to have ruled Northumbria, in the years running up to 954 the kingdom was controlled by the Scandinavians Amlaíb Cuarán and Eric Bloodaxe. According to Roger of Wendover's Flores historiarum (early 13th century), Osulf was responsible for a conspiracy with a certain Maccus that led to the betrayal and death of Eric Bloodaxe, King of Northumbria, "in a certain lonely place called Stainmore".
Following this, Osulf is said to have taken control of all Northumbria. Although this part of the Flores historiarum was compiled centuries later and contains some obvious anachronisms, Roger of Wendover appears to have used certain earlier sources, no longer extant, which would add credibility to the story. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle names King Eadred as the new ruler of Northumbria following the expulsion of Erik:
In this year the Northumbrians drove out Eric and Eadred succeeded to the kingdom".
This is why Richard Fletcher thinks Osulf was working at Eadred's instigation, and that a grateful Eadred promoted Osulf ruler of the entire Northumbrian sub-kingdom. However he got there, it was with Eadred's consent and overlordship, at least according to our sources. De primo Saxonum adventu summarises his status as follows:
Primus comitum post Eiricum, quem ultimum regem habuerunt Northymbrenses, Osulf provincias omnes Northanhymbrorum sub Edrido rege procuravit.
First of the earls after Erik, the last king whom the Northumbrians had, Osulf administered under King Eadred all the provinces of the Northumbrians.
Similar sentiments were expressed in the related Historia Regum: "Here the kings of Northumbrians came to an end and henceforth the provinces was administered by earls". Eadred's takeover and Osulf's rule thus represent the beginning of permanent West Saxon control of the North. Historian Alex Woolf argued that this take-over was a personal union of crowns rather like that between Scotland and England in 1603.
Little else is known about Osulf's period in power. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba says that in the time of Indulf (King of Scots from 954 to 962), Edinburgh was abandoned to the Scots, though nothing is said about the involvement of Northumbrians or Osulf.
The date of Osulf's death is not known. He was probably dead before 963, as that is the date Oslac appears for the first time as ealdorman in York. It is unclear whether Oslac was related to Osulf.[19] According to the De primo Saxonum adventu, Northumbria was divided into two parts after Osulf's death.[20] De Northumbria post Britannos says that Osulf had a son named Ealdred, father of Waltheof of Bamburgh (fl. 994), father of Uhtred of Northumbria.[21]Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 2. of Bramburgh, Waltheof
was born in 950 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in 1006 in Northumberland, England.
Generation: 2
2. of Bramburgh, Waltheof (1.Osulf1) was born in 950 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in 1006 in Northumberland, England.
Other Events and Attributes:
- Appointments / Titles: Earl of Bernecia
- Appointments / Titles: Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; Lord
- FSID: L8WY-72D
Notes:
This is WALTHEOF OF BAMBURGH, high-reeve / ealdorman of Bamburgh. NOT THE SAME AS Waltheof of Northumbria!
Waltheof of Bamburgh was high-reeve or ealdorman of Bamburgh (fl. 994 and died after 1006). He may have been son or grandson of Osulf I and was father of Uhtred the Bold, Ealdorman of Northumbria. His name is Scandinavian and implies that he had Viking ancestors.
'De Northumbria post Britannos' says that Osulf had a son named Ealdred, father of Waltheof of Bamburgh (fl. 994), father of Uhtred of Northumbria.
The name 'Waltheof' remained in his family when Earl Siward married his great-granddaughter and named his son Waltheof. This son of Siward became Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, and one of his descendant being Saint Waltheof of Melrose.
Additionally, another branch of the family would use the Waltheof name including: Waltheof of Allerdale who was son of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria. Waltheof of Inverkeithing and Dalmeny was son of Cospatric, and grandson of Waltheof of Allerdale. Another descendant of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria was Waltheof, Earl of Dunbar.
In 1006 Malcolm II of Scotland invaded Northumbria and besieged the newly founded episcopal city of Durham. At that time the Danes were raiding southern England and King Ethelred was unable to send help to the Northumbrians. Ealdorman Waltheof was too old to fight and remained in his castle at Bamburgh. Ealdorman Ælfhelm of York also took no action. Waltheof's son Uhtred, acting for his father, called together an army from Bernicia and Yorkshire and led it against the Scots. The result was a decisive victory for Uhtred. Local women washed the severed heads of the Scots, receiving a payment of a cow for each, and the heads were fixed on stakes to Durham's walls. Uhtred was rewarded by King Ethelred II with the ealdormanry of Bamburgh even though his father was still alive.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HE IS NOT THE SAME AS:
- Waltheof of Northumbria
- Saint Waltheof of Melrose
- Waltheof of Allerdale
- Waltheof of Inverkeithing and Dalmeny
- Waltheof of Dunbar
Who are all descendants of Waltheof of Bamburgh
- from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltheof_of_Bamburgh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osulf_I_of_Bamburgh#Death_and_legacyFamily/Spouse: of Bramburgh, Elfeda. Elfeda was born in 965 in England; died in DECEASED in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 3. of Bamburgh, Earl Uchtred FitzWaltheof
was born in 971 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in Mar 1016 in Wighill, Yorkshire, England.
Generation: 3
3. of Bamburgh, Earl Uchtred FitzWaltheof (2.Waltheof2, 1.Osulf1) was born in 971 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in Mar 1016 in Wighill, Yorkshire, England.
Other Events and Attributes:
- Nickname: The bold
- FSID: L8RR-4KG
- Appointments / Titles: Between 1006 and 1016; Ealdorman of all Northumbria, Lord of Bamburgh
Notes:
He was awarded in 1006 Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; For his decisive victory over Malcolm II of Scotland King Æthelred II rewarded Uchtred with the ealdormanry of Bamburgh, even though his father (the current Earl) was still alive.
Uhtred of Bamburgh, also called Uhtred the Bold, Earl of York & Northumberland (name spelled Uhtred, Uchtred, Ucthred), was the ealdorman of all Northumbria from 1006 to 1016, when he was assassinated. He was the son of Waltheof I, ealdorman of Bamburgh, whose ancient family had ruled from the castle of Bamburgh on the Northumbrian coast for generations.
Possibly born in 971, his exact birth date is unknown.
Married 1st about 995 to Ecgfrida, daughter of Bishop Aldhun of Durham, divorced (set aside) before 1004. They had one son:
- Ealdred
Married 2nd Sige, daughter of Styr Ulfsson of York, by 1004. A condition of this marriage was that Uhtred kill Styr's mortal enemy Thurbrand. This did not occur. Uhtred and Sige had two children before they separated about 1006:
- Eadulf (later Eadulf III)
- Gospatric
Married 3rd about 1006 Ælfgifu, daughter of King Ethelred of England. They had 1 daughter:
- Ealdgyth
Uhtred was murdered (along with 40 of his men) in 1016 by Thurbrand the Hold, who was assisted by Uhtred's own servant Wighill. His death triggered a generations long Blood Feud. Uhtred was succeeded in Bamburgh (Bernicia) by his brother Eadwulf Cudel who in turn was succeeded by Uhtred's son, Ealdred in the early 1020's
During the seighe in 1006 of 1006 in Durham, Northumbria, England; While the other Lords remained locked behind the walls of their castles, including his elderly father Waltheof, Uchtred rallied the men of Northumbria and repelled the attack of Malcolm II. It was a decisive victory for England with many loses for the King of Alba.
In 1016 he was betrayed and murdered in 1016 in Wighill, Yorkshire, England; Uchtred was murdered by Thurbrand the Hold (aka Thurebrand the Dane). Summoned to a 'peace meeting' by Cnut, Uchtred was then ambushed and murdered at Wiheal, with Cnuts connivance. Uchtred was too powerful and Cnut could not permit him to continue as a possible rival. This spawned a blood feud last from 1016 to 1070 in Bet. 1016-1070 in Northumbria, England; The murder of Uhtred began a Blood Feud. Uhtred's son Ealdred avenged his father by killing Thurbrand, but Ealdred in turn was killed by Thurbrand's son, Carl. Waltheof, Ealdred’s grandson had his soldiers kill most of Carl's sons and grandsons in 1070.Uchtred married of Durham, Æcgfrida Aldhunsdottir in 995 in England. Æcgfrida (daughter of of Durham, Aldhun) was born in 973 in Chester-Le-Street, Durham, England; died in 1089 in Northumberland, England; was buried in 1089 in Durham, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 4. of Bamburgh, Ealdred fitzUchtred
was born in 997 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in 1038 in Northumberland, England; was buried in 1038 in Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England.
Generation: 4
4. of Bamburgh, Ealdred fitzUchtred (3.Uchtred3, 2.Waltheof2, 1.Osulf1) was born in 997 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in 1038 in Northumberland, England; was buried in 1038 in Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England.
Other Events and Attributes:
- FSID: KZPV-BQM
- Appointments / Titles: Between 1020 and 1038, Northumberland, England; Ealdorman / Earl of Bernicia
Notes:
Ealdred of Bamburgh (also Ealdred II of Bamburgh and Ealdred Uhtredsson) was the oldest son of Uchtred of Bamburgh, Ealdorman of Northumbria and his 1st wife Ecgfrida, daughter of Bishop Aldhun of Durham, and was born about 997 (between 995 and 1006).
Ealdred's parents divorced in 1006 and Ealdred likely grew up in the household of his grandfather Aldhun, the Bishop of Durham. Ealdred's mother remarried and gave him a little sister, Sigrid, but divorced a 2nd time (was repuidated) and finished out her life living with her father.
Ealdred's father Uchtred married several more times, giving him at least 3 more siblings: Eadulf, Gospatrick, and Ealdgyth.
His father Uchtred was killed in 1016 by Thurbrand the Hold, starting a blood feud that lasted many years and several generations.
Ealdred's uncle Eadwulf Cudel was made Earl of Northumbria and upon his death in 1020 Ealdred succeeded him.
In 1024 Ealdred killed Thurbrand the Hold in revenge for his father's death.
In 1038 Ealdred was murdered by Thurbrand's son, Carl. He was succeeded as Earl of Bernicia by his 1/2 brother, Eadwulf.
1038 in Risewood Forest, Northumberlandshire, England; Ealdred was murdered in 1038 by Carl, son of Thurbrand the Hold in continuation of the Bloodfeud.
Although the name of his wife is not known, before his death Ealdred had five daughters, three of whom are recorded as having borne the same name:
- Ealdgyth who married Ligulf of Lumley
- Aelfflaed
- Aelfflaed
- Aelfflaed, second wife of Siward, Earl of Northumbria; and mother of Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria.
- Ethelthritha
The infamous Northumbrian Blood Feud was finally ended when Ealdred's grandson, Waltheof, had most of Carl's sons and grandsons killed in the 1070s.Family/Spouse: of Bernica, Edgina. Edgina was born in 998 in England; died in 1049 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 5. of Bamburgh, Ælfflæd
was born in 1020 in Bamburgh, Northumberland, England; died in DECEASED in England.