Oswiu of Northumbria facts for kids
Oswiu (born around 611, died February 15, 670), also known as Oswy, was a powerful Anglo-Saxon king. He became the King of Bernicia after his brother Oswald died. Later, he ruled all of Northumbria. Oswiu defeated and killed Penda of Mercia at the Battle of the Winwaed. This made him a very important ruler over the southern English kings. He took control of Mercia and made his son-in-law Peada (Penda's son) a client king. Oswiu was one of the few kings of Northumbria who died peacefully, not in battle.
Oswiu's Early Life
Oswiu was born around 611. He was a son of King Athelfrith of Bernicia and his second wife, Acha of Deira. He was the younger brother of King Oswald of Northumbria. When Oswiu was about six years old, his father was killed in battle by Edwin. Edwin then became King of Northumbria.
Oswiu, along with his brothers Eanfrith and Oswald, and their sister Aebbe, found safety with the Scots in Dál Riata. Monks from Iona baptized the children. They raised them in the Celtic Christian faith.
Around 634, Oswiu married Rhiainmelt. She was the daughter of Rhoeth of Rheged. This marriage was an alliance arranged by his brother, King Oswald. Oswiu had a son with Rhiainmelt named Alfrith of Deira. Rhiainmelt seems to have died. A year later, Oswiu was in Ireland with the Dál Riatans. There, he had a son, Aldfrith of Northumbria, with Fina, the daughter of the high King Colman.
Becoming King of Bernicia
When his brother Oswald was killed in 642, his overlordship ended. Oswald had been king of Bernicia, Deira, and Lindsey (kingdom) combined. But Northumbria was divided back into its weaker sub-kingdoms. Penda, who was now the most powerful king in England, took Lindsey. Oswiu became King of Bernicia.
Oswine claimed Deira, which stopped Oswiu from keeping it united with Bernicia. A year after Oswald's death, Oswiu recovered his brother's body from the battlefield. Oswiu had Oswald's remains buried at Bardney in Lindsey.
Oswiu invaded Deira in 651. He wanted to reunite Deira with Bernicia. Oswine was betrayed by one of his own noblemen. He was killed in 651 on Oswiu's orders. However, the people of Deira chose Athelwald, Oswiu's nephew, as their new king. Athelwald then joined forces with Oswiu's enemy, Penda. Deira was protected by Mercia for the next three years.
Penda was determined to defeat Oswiu and take Bernicia too. In 654, Penda gathered a very large army. According to Bede, Penda attacked Oswiu many times. With a much smaller force, Oswiu attacked Penda's army near the River Winwaed. Most of Penda's commanders were killed, including King Anna of East Anglia and Penda himself.
After this victory, Oswiu became the overlord over all the southern English people, including Mercia. Mercia was then divided. The area north of the River Trent was directly controlled by Oswiu. He made Peada of Mercia, Penda's son, king over the part of Mercia south of the Trent. Peada had married Oswiu's daughter, Alflaed. Peada was killed five months later by Alflaed, possibly on Oswiu's orders. The Mercians rebelled against Oswiu. Peada's brother Wulfhere then became king of Mercia.
Oswiu's Family
Based on Nennius' Historia Brittonum, Oswiu's first wife was a Briton named Reinmelth. She was the daughter of Royth, King of Rheged. They had one son:
- Alfrith, who became King of Deira.
Oswiu also had a daughter with Reinmelth:
- Alflaed, who married Peada of Mercia.
By Fina, daughter of the Irish High King Coleman, he had:
- Aldfrith (also known as Flann Fína mac Oswiu), who became King of Northumbria.
Oswiu married Eanflaed, daughter of King Edwin of Deira. Together they had:
- Ecgfrith, who was King of Deira under his father and later King of Northumbria.
- Elfwine, who was King of Deira.
- Ostryth, who married Aethelred I of Mercia.
- Enflaed, who was a co-abbess of Whitby.
See also
In Spanish: Oswiu de Northumbria para niños
