Eadulf Rus
Encyclopedia
Eadulf Rus was an 11th-century Northumbria
n noble. He was either the son or grandson of Gospatric (son of Uhtred the Bold), possibly the man who soon after Christmas 1064 was allegedly killed on behalf of Tostig, Earl of Northumbria. This murder by Tostig led to a great northern revolt against Edward the Confessor
, a revolt that turned both King Edward and Harold Godwinson
against Tostig and led to the appointment of the Mercian, Morcar, as Earl of northern England.
Eadulf is primarily remembered for his involvement in the death of Walcher, Earl of Northumbria
and Bishop of Durham. The sources says that the attack occurred as revenge for the murder of Walcher's English right-hand man, Ligulf. Ligulf had been connected into the Bamburgh kindred marrying, according to the Historia Regum
, Ealdgyth daughter of Ealdred, Earl of Bamburgh.
The Worcester Chronicle and the Historia Regum allege that the murder of Ligulf was planned by Walcher's chaplain Leobwin after Ligulf had argued with him during one of the earl's councils. It was Walcher's kinsman Gilbert, however, who is alleged to have entered Ligulf's hall, and attacked and killed him. Kapelle thought that, perhaps due to his failure to protect Northumberland
against the Scots in 1079, Walcher's relations with Ligulf broke down, leading to the loss of Ligulf's support and then to hostility.
On 14 May 1080 a party of Northumbrian natives attacked that bishop-earl and his household at Gateshead
, across the river from the future site of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, having arrived to hold discussions. The discussions were fruitless and Walcher, who was protected with 100 knights, retired to the church there. The Northumbrians set the church on fire, after Leobwin refused to surrender himself. Walcher was forced out and stabbed with swords. Leobwin was burned to death.
De primo Saxonum adventu
says that the leader was Eadulf, son of Gospatric; the Historia Regum also names, Eadulf cognomento Rus as the killer, but claims he was a grandson of Gospatric through another Uhtred. The Libellus de exordio
says that killer was a man named Waltheof, though this Waltheof may have been Eadulf's brother.
According to the Historia Regum Eadulf was killed soon after the death of Walcher, slain by a woman. His body was buried in the church at Jedburgh
(now Scottish Borders
), until Priot Turgot of Durham Cathedral
had it removed a few years later. Eadulf may have had a brother named Dolfin in addition to a brother named Waltheof.
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
n noble. He was either the son or grandson of Gospatric (son of Uhtred the Bold), possibly the man who soon after Christmas 1064 was allegedly killed on behalf of Tostig, Earl of Northumbria. This murder by Tostig led to a great northern revolt against Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
, a revolt that turned both King Edward and Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
against Tostig and led to the appointment of the Mercian, Morcar, as Earl of northern England.
Eadulf is primarily remembered for his involvement in the death of Walcher, Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria was a title in the Anglo-Danish, late Anglo-Saxon, and early Anglo-Norman period in England. The earldom of Northumbria was the successor of the ealdormanry of Bamburgh, itself the successor of an independent Bernicia. Under the Norse kingdom of York, there were earls of...
and Bishop of Durham. The sources says that the attack occurred as revenge for the murder of Walcher's English right-hand man, Ligulf. Ligulf had been connected into the Bamburgh kindred marrying, according to the Historia Regum
Historia Regum
The Historia Regum is a historical compilation attributed to Symeon of Durham, which presents material going from the death of Bede until 1129. It survives only in one manuscript compiled in Yorkshire in the mid-to-late 12th century, though the material is earlier...
, Ealdgyth daughter of Ealdred, Earl of Bamburgh.
The Worcester Chronicle and the Historia Regum allege that the murder of Ligulf was planned by Walcher's chaplain Leobwin after Ligulf had argued with him during one of the earl's councils. It was Walcher's kinsman Gilbert, however, who is alleged to have entered Ligulf's hall, and attacked and killed him. Kapelle thought that, perhaps due to his failure to protect Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
against the Scots in 1079, Walcher's relations with Ligulf broke down, leading to the loss of Ligulf's support and then to hostility.
On 14 May 1080 a party of Northumbrian natives attacked that bishop-earl and his household at Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, across the river from the future site of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, having arrived to hold discussions. The discussions were fruitless and Walcher, who was protected with 100 knights, retired to the church there. The Northumbrians set the church on fire, after Leobwin refused to surrender himself. Walcher was forced out and stabbed with swords. Leobwin was burned to death.
De primo Saxonum adventu
De primo Saxonum adventu
De primo Saxonum adventu is a historical work, probably written in Durham during the episcopate of Ranulf Flambard . It recounts the coming of the English to the British Isles, treating individually the history of the rulers of the Kingdom of Kent, of the Kingdom of East Anglia, of the Kingdom...
says that the leader was Eadulf, son of Gospatric; the Historia Regum also names, Eadulf cognomento Rus as the killer, but claims he was a grandson of Gospatric through another Uhtred. The Libellus de exordio
Libellus de exordio
The Libellus de exordio atque procursu istius, hoc est Dunhelmensis, ecclesie , in short Libellus de exordio, is a historical work of marked literary character composed and compiled in the early 12th-century and traditionally attributed to Symeon of Durham...
says that killer was a man named Waltheof, though this Waltheof may have been Eadulf's brother.
According to the Historia Regum Eadulf was killed soon after the death of Walcher, slain by a woman. His body was buried in the church at Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
(now Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
), until Priot Turgot of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
had it removed a few years later. Eadulf may have had a brother named Dolfin in addition to a brother named Waltheof.