Eardwulf of Northumbria
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Eardwulf was twice king of Northumbria from 796 to 806 and, perhaps, again from 808 to 811 or 812. Eardwulf's father, also named Eardwulf, had been a patricius, and it is proposed that they were descended of Eanwine (killed 740), son of Eadwulf.
He first appears in the record as a patricius (ealdorman) when an attempt on his life was made c. 790. He was left for dead outside the monastery of Ripon, but survived. This attack was the work of King Æthelred.
Eardwulf became King of Northumbria on the deposition of Osbald in the early summer of 796. He is said to have married a daughter of Charlemagne, but since all Charlemagne's legitimate daughters are otherwise accounted for, either Eardwulf's wife was illegitimate or she was a niece or other near relative of the Frankish ruler.
In 800, Eardwulf had Alhmund, son of Alhred, killed, supposedly (and plausibly) for having conspired with Coenwulf of Mercia. Alhmund was buried at Derby, where the remains of his sarcophagus are, and a cult created around him by Coenwulf. Eardwulf and Coenwulf were at war by 801, but the fighting was settled by a negotiated agreement.
In 806 Eardwulf was deposed, and took refuge at the court of Charlemagne. He was succeeded by Ælfwald II, who died in 808. Following Ælfwald's death, accompanied by Frankish and Papal envoys, Eardwulf returned to Northumbria. It is not clear whether Eardwulf was then restored to the throne, or whether the reign of his son Eanred began in 808. Eardwulf appears to have died around 811 or 812.
[edit] References
- Higham, N.J., The Kingdom of Northumbria AD 350-1100. Stroud: Sutton, 1993. ISBN 0-86299-730-5
- Yorke, Barbara, Kings and Kingdoms of early Anglo-Saxon England. London: Seaby, 1990. ISBN 1-85264-027-8
| Preceded by: Osbald |
King of Northumbria 796–806 |
Succeeded by: Ælfwald II |
