Rædwulf of Northumbria facts for kids

Rædwulf was a king who ruled Northumbria, a kingdom in what is now northern England, a long time ago. He was king for only a short period. We don't know much about his family, but some people think he might have been related to other kings named Osberht and Ælla.

A coin from King Rædwulf's time.

Rædwulf became king after the previous ruler, Æthelred, was removed from power. We know Rædwulf was king because special coins from his reign have been found.

The Short Reign of Rædwulf

Most of what we know about Rædwulf comes from old writings and the coins found by historians. One old book, called Flores Historiarum by Roger of Wendover, mentions Rædwulf. It says he died fighting against "pagans," which was another name for the Vikings at that time.

When Did Rædwulf Rule?

Historians have used different ways to figure out when Rædwulf was king. The old book Flores Historiarum suggests he ruled around the year 844. However, historians now think this date might not be quite right.

Recently, a coin from another king, Eanred, was found. This coin helped experts understand the timeline better. Because of this new discovery, many historians now believe Rædwulf's short reign was actually around the year 858.

After Rædwulf's Death

Both the old writings and the coins agree on one thing: after Rædwulf died, the king who was removed before him, Æthelred, became king of Northumbria again.