Eadwulf Cudel facts for kids

Eadwulf Cudel (also known as Eadwulf III of Bamburgh) was a ruler in a part of England called Bamburgh during the early 1000s. His nickname, "Cudel," means "cuttlefish," which is a type of sea animal. He was an important leader in a time when different groups were fighting for control of England.

Who Was Eadwulf Cudel?

Eadwulf Cudel was the son of a powerful ruler named Waltheof, who was in charge of Bamburgh. Waltheof died in 1006. After him, Eadwulf's brother, Uhtred the Bold, became the ruler. Uhtred was also made an earl in York by King Æthelred the Unready. This meant Uhtred was responsible for a large area called Northumbria.

A Time of Change

The area where Eadwulf lived, Northumbria, had a long history of change. Years before, in 866, Vikings took over York. This led to southern Northumbria becoming part of the Danelaw, which was an area ruled by Vikings. However, in the northern part, English rulers managed to keep control from their base in Bamburgh. These rulers were sometimes called kings, earls, or princes. It's not always clear if they were fully independent from the kings of England or Scotland.

In 1016, Eadwulf's brother Uhtred was sadly murdered. After this, a new king, Cnut, took power. King Cnut appointed Erik, son of Hakon, as the new earl in York. At the same time, Eadwulf Cudel took over as ruler in Bamburgh.

The Battle of Carham and Lothian

In 1018, the people of Bamburgh, led by Eadwulf, faced a big battle. They were defeated by Malcolm II of Scotland, the King of Scotland, in a fight known as the Battle of Carham.

After this battle, some old stories from the 1100s say that Eadwulf was "very lazy and cowardly." These stories claim he gave up a northern part of his land, called Lothian, to the Scots. However, historians today are not sure if this is true. Many English stories from that time tried to explain why Lothian became part of Scotland.

What Happened to Lothian?

Another old story says that Lothian had been under Scottish control much earlier, since the 970s. This was supposedly when King Edgar of England gave it to Kenneth II of Scotland, another Scottish king. More recently, some historians believe that Lothian actually stayed part of Bamburgh until around 1090, during the time of Malcolm III of Scotland. This means the story about Eadwulf giving it away might not be accurate.

Eadwulf's Later Life

Eadwulf Cudel is not mentioned in any writings from his own time. But historians believe he likely died sometime in the early 1020s. After his death, his brother Uhtred's son, Ealdred, took over as the ruler of Bamburgh.