Eadwulf I of Northumbria facts for kids
Eadwulf was a king who ruled Northumbria, an old kingdom in what is now northern England. He became king in December 704 after King Aldfrith died. But Eadwulf's time as king was very short. He only ruled until February or March of 705. After that, Aldfrith's young son, Osred, became king again.
Quick facts for kids Eadwulf |
|
|---|---|
| King of Northumbria | |
| Reign | 704-705 |
| Predecessor | Aldfirth |
| Successor | Osred |
| Died | 717 |
Eadwulf: A Brief Reign
When King Aldfrith died, his son Osred was still a child. Because Osred was too young to rule, it is thought that Eadwulf took the throne for himself. This is called "usurping" the throne, meaning he took power without being the rightful heir. We do not know if Eadwulf was related to the main royal family of Northumbria. This family came from a king named Ida. However, it is possible Eadwulf was from another branch of the royal family. Other kings from different royal lines ruled Northumbria later on.
The Fight for the Throne
At first, Eadwulf seemed to have the support of a powerful leader named Berhtfrith. Berhtfrith was likely in charge of the northern border of Northumbria, near Lothian and the Forth. But soon, a big problem came up. Bishop Wilfrid, an important church leader, had been sent away by the previous king, Aldfrith. Wilfrid wanted to come back to Northumbria.
Eadwulf wanted to keep Bishop Wilfrid in exile, meaning he wanted him to stay away. However, Berhtfrith seemed to support Wilfrid's return. This disagreement led to a short civil war. A civil war is a war between groups of people in the same country.
The fighting ended with a siege of Bamburgh. A siege is when an army surrounds a castle or city to try and take it over. In the end, Berhtfrith, Bishop Wilfrid, and the people who supported young Osred won the war. Osred was then put back on the throne as the child-king of Northumbria.
Life After Losing Power
After losing the throne, Eadwulf was sent away from Northumbria. He likely went to either Dál Riata (a kingdom in what is now Scotland and Ireland) or Pictland (another kingdom in ancient Scotland). The old records, called the Annals of Ulster, say that Eadwulf died in the year 717.
Eadwulf's family continued to be important in Northumbria. His son, Earnwine, was killed in 740 by another king, Eadberht of Northumbria. Much later, Eadwulf's great-grandson, Eardwulf, and Eardwulf's son, Eanred, both became kings of Northumbria. This shows that Eadwulf's family line eventually returned to power.
