Eadwulf Evil-child facts for kids

Eadwulf II, also known as Eadulf or Adulf, had a very unusual nickname: Evil-child. In his time, around the years 968 to 970, he was a powerful leader in a place called Bamburgh. This area was in the northern part of England, known as Northumbria. Even though some people called him an Earl, he only ruled the northern section of Northumbria. This land stretched from the Firth of Forth in the north down to the River Tees.

Who Was Eadwulf Evil-child?

His Unique Name

Eadwulf's nickname, Evil-child, comes from two Old English words: yvel (meaning evil) and cild (meaning child). It's a bit like calling someone a "bad boy" today! We don't know much about Eadwulf's early life. His nickname might mean he was a wild or naughty young person.

However, the word cild was also a special title. Some important Anglo-Saxon nobles used it to show their high rank. So, Eadwulf might have gotten the name because he was a nobleman with a difficult personality. Or perhaps people thought he wasn't worthy of his noble position.

His Family Connections

Eadwulf's first name, Eadwulf, suggests he might have been related to an earlier ruler of Bamburgh, also named Eadwulf, who died in 913. Some historians think Eadwulf Evil-child might have been the son of Oswulf. Oswulf was another ruler of Bamburgh whom Evil-child later took over from. It's very likely they were family.

It's interesting that Eadwulf Evil-child is not mentioned in the family tree of Bamburgh rulers. This family tree was written down much later, in the 1100s. Because of this, we don't have direct proof of who his parents were. He could have been the son of Oswulf or one of Oswulf's brothers. Unlike Oswulf, Eadwulf Evil-child doesn't have any known children mentioned in historical records.

Eadwulf as Ruler of Bamburgh

When Did He Rule?

It's not completely clear exactly when Eadwulf Evil-child became the ruler of Bamburgh. His predecessor, Oswulf, was last mentioned around the year 950. Oswulf was also linked to the killing of a Norse king, Eric of York, around 954.

Eadwulf himself appears in official documents, called charters, between 968 and 970. In these documents, he acts as a witness for the King of England. It's probably not a coincidence that a bishop from the north, Bishop Ælfsige, also appeared in the south during this time. These are the only times Eadwulf is mentioned in records from his own time. However, we can't be absolutely sure that the "Eadulf dux" (meaning Duke Eadulf) in these documents is definitely Eadwulf Evil-child.

Dividing Northumbria

Later stories from the 1100s tell us that after Oswulf died, the English King Edgar the Peaceful divided Northumbria into two parts. These stories say that Oswulf used to rule all of southern Northumbria. But in the new plan, the southern part was given to Earl Oslac. Eadwulf Evil-child was given control of the land further north. Some stories say the border was the River Tees, while others say it was the River Tyne. Eadwulf's land was said to stretch north to a place called 'Myreford', which was probably the Firth of Forth.

One version of this story, written in the 1100s, doesn't even mention Eadwulf Evil-child. This might be because the powerful Earls of the 1000s didn't think he was an important ancestor.

King Edgar's Plan

According to a story from the 1200s, King Edgar made this division during a meeting in York. He did this to stop one person from inheriting the entire area. At this ceremony, Eadwulf was "girt with the sword" of his new earldom. This means he was officially given his new position, but he wasn't crowned like a king. Historians believe that these different stories might all come from one lost original source.

Lothian and Scotland

Another version of the story adds that King Edgar took a part of Eadwulf's territory called Lothian. He then gave it to the Scottish King Kenneth II. The story says that Eadwulf, Oslac, and Bishop Ælfsige went with Kenneth to meet King Edgar in Chester. After Kenneth promised to be loyal, Edgar rewarded him by giving him Lothian. This story is one of many that try to explain why, by the 1100s, the English-speaking area of Lothian and Borders was ruled by Scottish kings instead of English ones.

A Captured Prince?

A record from the 900s, called the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, mentions that during the rule of Kenneth II (from 977 to 995), the 'son of the king of the Saxons' was captured during a Scottish raid. People think this refers to the son of a ruler of Bamburgh, not a West Saxon English king. So, it was probably a son of Eadwulf Evil-child or perhaps his successor, Waltheof.

No old records say what happened to this captured son. But some people think that Eadwulf might have given up some of his lands north of the River Tweed to get his son back safely.

What Happened to Eadwulf?

Eadwulf's successor, Waltheof, is mentioned in a southern charter in 994. This means Eadwulf was either dead or no longer in power by that year. Some historians think Eadwulf might have lost his position during a time of political trouble in England in 975. This was when there was a big disagreement about who should become king after King Edgar died.

It has been suggested that Eadwulf and Oslac supported Æthelred the Unready, who didn't become king. Instead, Edward the Martyr became king. Because of this, Eadwulf and Oslac might have lost their power. It's also possible that powerful nobles in Northumbria removed Eadwulf from his position, or even that he was killed.