Oswiu facts for kids

Oswiu, also known as Oswy or Oswig (Old English: Ōswīg; born around 612 – died February 15, 670), was a powerful king in early England. He ruled the kingdom of Bernicia starting in 642. Later, from 654 until his death, he became king of all Northumbria.

Oswiu is famous for his important role at the Synod of Whitby in 664. This meeting helped decide how the Christian church in Northumbria would follow the wider Catholic Church. He was one of the sons of Æthelfrith, who was King of Bernicia. Oswiu became king after his brother Oswald died in 642. For much of his rule, Oswiu worked hard to control Deira, the other main part of Northumbria.

Oswiu and his brothers grew up away from home in a place called Dál Riata (now in Scotland). They returned to Northumbria after their father's enemy, Edwin of Deira, died in 633. Oswiu became king when his brother Oswald was killed fighting Penda of Mercia. The first part of Oswiu's reign was tough. He struggled to control Deira and had a difficult relationship with Penda, who was a very strong ruler.

In 655, Oswiu's army won a huge battle against Penda at the Battle of the Winwaed. This victory made Oswiu one of the most powerful leaders in Britain. He took control of Deira, with his son Alhfrith ruling as a sub-king. For three years, Oswiu's power reached over Mercia, and he was seen as a bretwalda, meaning a powerful ruler over much of Great Britain.

Oswiu was a very religious Christian. He encouraged his people to follow the faith and built several monasteries, including Gilling Abbey and Whitby Abbey. He was raised in the Celtic Christian way, common in Ireland. This was different from the Roman way, which was followed by southern English kingdoms and some nobles in Deira, including Oswiu's wife, Eanflæd. In 664, Oswiu led the Synod of Whitby. Here, church leaders debated the two Christian traditions. Oswiu helped solve the disagreement by deciding that Northumbria would follow the Roman style. Oswiu died in 670, and his son, Ecgfrith, became king after him.

Oswiu's Early Life and Exile

Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of the early 7th century

Oswiu was born around 612. He was the third child of Æthelfrith, who was the King of Bernicia. His older brothers were Eanfrith and Oswald. He also had a sister named Æbbe. Oswiu's mother was probably Acha, a princess from Deira's royal family. She was known to be Oswald's mother. Even with this family connection, the nobles of Deira didn't like Oswiu much. They accepted Oswald as king, but they resisted Oswiu throughout his rule.

When Oswiu was born, his father, Æthelfrith, was very powerful. In 604, Æthelfrith had taken control of Deira. He killed the previous king and married Acha. He also sent Acha's brother, Edwin, away from the kingdom. Æthelfrith's power stretched from the lands of the Picts in Scotland down to Wales and the Midlands. His power came from his success in battles.

However, Æthelfrith's success ended in 616. Edwin of Deira, who had been exiled, returned with help from King Rædwald. Edwin defeated and killed Æthelfrith in a battle near the River Idle. After Æthelfrith's death, his sons and their supporters had to flee Northumbria. They found safety among the Gaels and Picts in northern Britain and Ireland. They stayed there until Edwin died in 633.

While in exile, Oswiu and his brothers became Christians or were raised as Christians. Oswiu was only four years old when he went into exile. He didn't return to Northumbria until he was 21. This means he spent his childhood and teenage years living among the Gaelic people. A historian named Bede wrote that Oswiu could speak the Old Irish language fluently and followed the Irish Christian faith.

Besides learning the Irish language and becoming a strong Christian, Oswiu might have fought for his Gaelic hosts. He may have received his weapons from a King of Dál Riata, like Eochaid Buide. It's not clear if Oswiu's marriage to the Irish princess Fín happened during his exile or later. She was the mother of his son, Aldfrith.

It's also not certain exactly when Oswiu came back to Northumbria. He might have returned with his brother Eanfrith after Edwin's death in 633. Eanfrith later gave up his Christian faith and was killed by Cadwallon ap Cadfan. Cadwallon was then defeated and killed by another brother, Oswald. Oswald became king of Bernicia and likely took over his father's powerful position in northern and central Britain.

Oswiu Becomes King

Oswald died in a battle against Penda of Mercia at the Battle of Maserfield on August 5, 642. Oswald's son, Œthelwald, might have been his chosen successor. However, Œthelwald was not an adult in 642. So, the kingship went to Oswiu. Unlike his brothers Eanfrith and Osric, Oswiu remained a Christian. This was true even after his brother's defeat by the pagan Penda. His strong Christian upbringing likely played a role. The influence of Bishop Aidan of Lindisfarne, who was important in Bernicia, also helped.

Oswiu's first known action as king of Bernicia was to make his position stronger. He also wanted to improve his claim to Deira. He did this by marrying Edwin's daughter, Eanflæd, who was living in exile in the Kingdom of Kent. This marriage happened between 642 and 644.

Oswiu was married three times. His Queen, Eanflæd, had two sons and two daughters with him. Their sons were Ecgfrith (born 644/645) and Ælfwine (born around 660). Their daughters were Osthryth and Ælfflæd (born around 654). The Irish princess Fín was the mother of Aldfrith. Finally, a British princess named Rieinmelth from Rheged is also named as one of Oswiu's wives. It is believed that Ealhfrith was her son.

Struggles with Penda and Deira

The first half of Oswiu's rule was overshadowed by Penda. Penda was a very powerful king who controlled much of Britain from 642 to 655. He seemed to decide who would be king in many places. Northumbria was still made up of two separate kingdoms during Oswiu's time. Oswiu ruled the northern kingdom of Bernicia, which stretched from the River Tees to the Firth of Forth. The kingdom of Deira was to the south. It was ruled by Oswiu's relatives, first as a separate kingdom, then later by Oswiu's sons.

For the first ten years of Oswiu's reign, Deira had its own independent king, Oswine. Oswine was the son of Osric, who belonged to the rival Deiran royal family. Oswine and Oswiu had a conflict around 651. Oswine was killed. To make up for Oswine's death, Oswiu built Gilling Abbey at Gilling. Prayers were said there for both Oswine and Oswiu. After Oswine, Oswald's son Œthelwald became king of Deira.

Oswiu's relationship with Penda was not always peaceful between 642 and 655. Bede wrote that Penda launched a major attack on Bernicia before 651. This attack reached the gates of Bamburgh. An old Irish record mentions "the battle of Oswy against Penda" around 650, which might refer to this attack.

Some historians think that Oswine's killing might have actually improved relations between Penda and Oswiu in the early 650s. Oswiu's son Ealhfrith married Penda's daughter Cyneburh. Also, Oswiu's daughter Eahlflæd married Penda's son Peada. Peada was baptised near Hadrian's Wall by Bishop Finan. Peada and Eahlflæd took a group of missionaries, including Cedd, to start a church in their lands.

Victory at Winwaed and Overlordship

In 655, Bede reported that Penda invaded Bernicia with a huge army. Bede says that Oswiu offered "a huge amount of royal treasures and gifts for peace." But Penda refused. Oswiu then promised to give his daughter Ælfflæd to the church. He also vowed to build twelve monasteries if he won the battle. With help from his son Ealhfrith, Oswiu fought Penda with a small army at the Battle of the Winwaed. This battle happened near Leeds. Oswiu won, and Penda was killed, along with many of his allies. King Æthelhere of the East Angles also died. Œthelwald had helped Penda but stayed out of the actual fighting.

An older history book, the Historia Brittonum, tells a slightly different story. It says Oswiu's offer of treasure was accepted. This was linked to a siege of a place called Iudeu. It's thought that Oswiu's son Ecgfrith was given as a hostage to Penda's queen at this time. The Historia suggests that many of Penda's allies were British kings. It also notes that Cadafael ap Cynfeddw joined Œthelwald in avoiding the battle. This earned Cadafael the nickname Cadomedd (the Battle-Shirker). The decisive battle is called "Gaius's field" in this account.

The surprising defeat of Penda, who had been so powerful, made Oswiu the most important ruler in Britain. Œthelwald's unsure actions during the battle likely led to his removal as king of Deira. Oswiu put his adult son Ealhfrith in charge of Deira instead of Œthelwald. Penda's son Peada was made king of southern Mercia. Oswiu took control of the northern part of Mercia himself. Other rulers in Mercia also seemed to be under Oswiu's control.

Further south, Æthelhere's brother Æthelwold might have become king with Oswiu's help. King Cenwalh of Wessex, who Penda had driven out, also likely returned to power with Oswiu's support. King Sigeberht the Good of the East Saxons was Oswiu's friend. Oswiu's nephew, Talorcan, may have also become a leading king among the Picts at this time.

Oswiu's complete control lasted only a short time, about three years. This changed when Peada died, supposedly poisoned by his wife, Oswiu's daughter Eahlflæd. This probably happened around Easter 656. Oswiu then put his own governors in charge of Mercia. But around 659, a revolt by three Mercian noblemen put Penda's son Wulfhere back as ruler of the Mercians. Oswiu's supporters were driven out. Oswiu was still a strong force, and the problem was solved through talks, not more fighting. Oswiu's relative Trumhere was named Wulfhere's bishop. While Wulfhere expanded Mercian power in southern Britain, he still seemed to recognize Oswiu as the most important king.

Welsh records suggest that Oswiu fought in Wales in the late 650s. He made the Welsh kings, who had been Penda's allies, pay him tribute. This included Cadafael, the king of Gwynedd who had avoided the battle. Elsewhere in the south, Oswiu's ally Sigeberht of the East Saxons was murdered. His brother Swithhelm replaced him. Swithelm remained Christian but became less close to Oswiu. He was probably under the control of the East Angles.

The Synod of Whitby

In 664, a very important meeting called the Synod of Whitby took place. At this meeting, Oswiu decided that Northumbria would follow the practices of the Roman Church. This led to Bishop Colmán of Lindisfarne leaving. Bede wrote that Oswiu's son Ealhfrith pushed for this change. Ealhfrith had been raised with the Irish-Northumbrian ways but chose to follow the Roman customs. His rejection of the old ways, along with the removal of future saints Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and Eata of Hexham from Ripon, was seen as a strong political move. Also, Bede wrote that in 665, "Easter was kept twice in one year." This happened because the King finished Lent and celebrated Easter, but the Queen and her helpers were still fasting and celebrating Palm Sunday due to different calendar calculations.

Oswiu's Later Years and Death

In 660, Oswiu arranged for his son Ecgfrith to marry Æthelthryth. She was the daughter of the former East Anglian king Anna.

Even in his final years, Oswiu remained a very important person in Britain. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore of Tarsus, traveled north to meet him in 669. Bede wrote that Oswiu had planned to go on a pilgrimage to Rome with Bishop Wilfrid. However, he became ill and died on February 15, 670, at the age of 58. His older son by Queen Eanflæd, Ecgfrith, became King of Bernicia. Their younger son, Ælfwine, became King of Deira. Oswiu was buried at Whitby Abbey, next to Edwin of Deira. His widow and their daughter Ælflæd later became Abbesses of Whitby and were also buried there.

Alcuin, who wrote about a hundred years after Oswiu's death, described him as "very fair, with just laws, unbeatable in battle but trustworthy in peace, generous with gifts to the poor, religious, and fair to everyone."

Family

• Alhfrith
• Ecgfrith
• Ælfwine
• Osthryth
• Ælfflæd
• Aldfrith
• Ealhflæd

Holy Relics

Oswiu and his wife Eanflæd received relics (holy objects) from several saints around 665. These were gifts from Pope Vitalian. The relics included parts of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Laurentius, John the Apostle, Saint Gregory, and Saint Pancras. Eanflæd also received "a cross, with a gold key to it, made out of the most holy chains of the apostles, Peter and Paul." This gift is mentioned by Bede in his book Ecclesiastical History of the English People. It was brought back by a group returning from Rome, led by Wighard.

See also

In Spanish: Oswiu de Northumbria para niños

• Kings of Mercia family tree