Ealdred I of Bernicia
Encyclopedia
Ealdred was the son of Eadwulf. He was a ruler or nobleman in Northumbria
in the early tenth century.
Ealdred's father, called "king of the Saxons of the North" by the Annals of Ulster
, but only reeve
of Bamburgh
by the chronicler Æthelweard, died in 913. He may have been ruler of Northumbria following Eowils and Halfdan who were killed at Tettenhall
circa
910. It is unknown whether the family had links to pre- or post-Viking kings of Northumbria.
The Historia de Sancto Cuthberto
states that Ealdred "was a friend of King Edward the Elder
, as his father had been a favourite of King Alfred the Great
". Ealdred was driven from his lands, whether all of Northumbria or merely the northern part which had once been Bernicia
is debated, by Ragnall ua Ímair
, either in or before 914, or alternatively as late as 918. The Historia states that Ealdred sought refuge with Constantín mac Áeda, the king of Alba, and that the two fought Ragnall at the battle of Corbridge
, dated by the Annals of Ulster and the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
to 918. The battle appears to have been indecisive and Ragnall remained the master of at least southern Northumbria, former Deira
, or perhaps of all.
In 920 "the sons of Eadwulf" were among those who met with Edward the Elder and, in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
, "chose him as father and lord". Ealdred is named as one of those present at Eamont Bridge
on 12 July 927 when Edward's son Æthelstan met with the northern British kings.
While Ealdred is nowhere certainly recorded after 927, it may be that the Annals of Clonmacnoise
report his death as "Adulf mcEtulfe, king of the North Saxons" circa 934, although this may be another of Eadwulf's sons.
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...
in the early tenth century.
Ealdred's father, called "king of the Saxons of the North" by the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
, but only reeve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
of Bamburgh
Bamburgh
Bamburgh is a large village and civil parish on the coast of Northumberland, England. It has a population of 454.It is notable for two reasons: the imposing Bamburgh Castle, overlooking the beach, seat of the former Kings of Northumbria, and at present owned by the Armstrong family ; and its...
by the chronicler Æthelweard, died in 913. He may have been ruler of Northumbria following Eowils and Halfdan who were killed at Tettenhall
Tettenhall
Tettenhall is a historic part of the city of Wolverhampton, England. The name Tettenhall is probably derived from Teotta's Halh, Teotta being a person's name and Halh being a sheltered position...
circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
910. It is unknown whether the family had links to pre- or post-Viking kings of Northumbria.
The Historia de Sancto Cuthberto
Historia de Sancto Cuthberto
The Historia de Sancto Cuthberto is a historical compilation finished some time after 1031. It is an account of the history of the bishopric of St Cuthbert—based successively at Lindisfarne, Norham, Chester-le-Street and finally Durham—from the life of St Cuthbert himself onwards. The latest event...
states that Ealdred "was a friend of King Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...
, as his father had been a favourite of King Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
". Ealdred was driven from his lands, whether all of Northumbria or merely the northern part which had once been Bernicia
Bernicia
Bernicia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established by Anglian settlers of the 6th century in what is now southeastern Scotland and North East England....
is debated, by Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall was a Norse overlord or emperor of northern Britain, including Northumbria, the entire Irish Sea region including the Isle of Man, south to Waterford and briefly much of the Irish province of Munster, and then returning to Britain, briefly York as distinct from Northumbria at this time...
, either in or before 914, or alternatively as late as 918. The Historia states that Ealdred sought refuge with Constantín mac Áeda, the king of Alba, and that the two fought Ragnall at the battle of Corbridge
Battle of Corbridge
The Battle of Corbridge took place at Corbridge in 918. it was important in deciding the fate of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria and the English earldom of Bamburgh...
, dated by the Annals of Ulster and the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, or Scottish Chronicle, is a short written chronicle of the Kings of Alba, covering the period from the time of Kenneth MacAlpin until the reign of Kenneth II . W.F...
to 918. The battle appears to have been indecisive and Ragnall remained the master of at least southern Northumbria, former Deira
Deira
Deira was a kingdom in Northern England during the 6th century AD. Itextended from the Humber to the Tees, and from the sea to the western edge of the Vale of York...
, or perhaps of all.
In 920 "the sons of Eadwulf" were among those who met with Edward the Elder and, in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
, "chose him as father and lord". Ealdred is named as one of those present at Eamont Bridge
Eamont Bridge
Eamont Bridge is a small village immediately to the south of Penrith, Cumbria.The village is named after the River Eamont and straddles the boundary between the ancient counties of Cumberland and Westmorland...
on 12 July 927 when Edward's son Æthelstan met with the northern British kings.
While Ealdred is nowhere certainly recorded after 927, it may be that the Annals of Clonmacnoise
Annals of Clonmacnoise
The Annals of Clonmacnoise are an early 17th-century Early Modern English translation of a lost Irish chronicle, which covered events in Ireland from pre-history to A.D. 1408...
report his death as "Adulf mcEtulfe, king of the North Saxons" circa 934, although this may be another of Eadwulf's sons.
Sources
- Stenton, Sir Frank M.Frank StentonSir Frank Merry Stenton was a 20th century historian of Anglo-Saxon England, and president of the Royal Historical Society . He was the author of Anglo-Saxon England, a volume of the Oxford History of England, first published in 1943 and widely considered a classic history of the period...
, Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition. Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1971. - Swanton, Michael, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Dent, 1996.
- Woolf, AlexAlex WoolfAlex Woolf is a medieval historian based at the University of St Andrews. He specialises in the history of the British Isles and Scandinavia in the Early Middle Ages, especially in relation to the peoples of Wales and Scotland. He is author of volume two in the New Edinburgh History of Scotland,...
, From Pictland to Alba 789–1070. Edinburgh University Press, 2007.