Oswald of East Anglia facts for kids

Oswald was a king of East Anglia in the 870s. East Anglia is a region in what is now the United Kingdom. He became king after Edmund the Martyr died. We don't have any written records about Oswald's time as king. However, we know he existed because of coins that have his name on them.

Oswald's Time as King

Historians believe that Oswald and another king named Æthelred ruled East Anglia together. This was after King Edmund died and before a Viking leader named Guthrum returned in 880. Oswald and Æthelred were likely "client kings." This means they ruled East Anglia, but they were under the control of the Vikings.

The Vikings had attacked East Anglia, which led to King Edmund's death. It seems that many of the important leaders in East Anglia were gone after these attacks. For a while, Oswald, Æthelred, and then Guthrum ruled the kingdom. There might have been some people who tried to fight against the Danish (Viking) leaders during this time. The Vikings controlled East Anglia until 920. That's when Edward the Elder defeated the Danes, and East Anglia became part of the kingdom of England.

Coins Tell a Story

Two coins of Oswald, now in the British Museum

The only way we know about Oswald is from the coins that have his name on them. During this time, people used coins and silver bars (called bullion) for trade. The Vikings continued the Anglo-Saxon tradition of making silver pennies. However, they made far fewer coins than before.

For example, we know of over 200 coins made by the people who minted coins for Oswald's predecessor, King Edmund. But for Oswald and Æthelred, only eight coins have been found. This shows that coin production was much lower during their reigns.

Some coins with Oswald's name were found in a large collection called the Cuerdale Hoard. These coins were made between the 870s and the 900s, after King Edmund's death. One coin was made by a moneyer (a person who makes coins) whose name started with 'Beor...'. Another coin has a special design, an 'alpha' symbol, which was common in East Anglia.

Oswald in Pop Culture

Oswald appears in the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. This game is set in the 870s and 880s, the same time Oswald lived. In the game, the player helps Oswald become king of East Anglia. The throne had been empty since King Edmund died. In the game, Oswald also marries a Danish woman. This helps him gain the support of the Danes living in the region.