Leodwaldings
Encyclopedia
The Leodwaldings were an Anglo-Saxon
aristocratic clan in Northumbria
who claimed descent from King Ida of Bernicia
. They played a prominent role in eighth century Northumbrian politics, providing several kings and prelates.
The death of King Osred
son of Aldfrith
in 716 ended the era when Northumbria
was ruled by direct descendants of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia. Although another direct descendant of Æthelfrith—Osric
—ruled Northumbria from 718 to 729, and the last of Aldfrith's sons, Offa, did not die until 750, the rulership of Northumbria first came to the Leodwaldings in 716.
The genealogy in the Historia Brittonum makes the Leodwaldings descendants of a son of Ida named Ocg. The family name is taken from Leodwald son of Ecgwulf, grandfather of the first prominent members of the family. Two sons of Leodwald are known from genealogies of their descendants: Cuthwine and Eata.
The first prominent members of the family are Cuthwine's sons Coenred
(ruled 716–718) and Ceolwulf
(ruled 729–737 or 738; died 764). No descendants of Cuthwine's sons are known. The two known sons of Eata were the dominant figures of mid-eighth century Northumbria. Ecgberht was Archbishop of York
from 734 until 766. Ecgberht's brother Eadberht
was king from Ceolwulf's abdication in 737 or 738 until his own abdication in 758.
Eadberht's son Oswulf
was king for less than a year, but Oswulf's son Ælfwald
ruled from 779 until his murder in 788 and was considered a saint at Hexham Abbey
where his remains were buried. Ælfwald left two sons, Ælf and Ælfwine, who were killed in 791 on the orders of King Æthelred
. Eadberht's daughter Osgifu married Alhred
, king from 765 to 774. They had two known sons. Osred
was king from 788 to 790, killed by Æthelred when attempting to retake power in 792. Alhmund
was killed in 800 on the orders of King Eardwulf
. He too was considered a saint and martyr.
Æthelberht, Ecgberht's successor as Archbishop, is described as his kinsman by Alcuin
, but there is no evidence that he was a Leodwalding.
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
aristocratic clan in Northumbria
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...
who claimed descent from King Ida of Bernicia
Ida of Bernicia
Ida is the first known king of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia, which he ruled from around 547 until his death in 559. Little is known of his life or reign, but he was regarded as the founder of a line from which later Anglo-Saxon kings in this part of northern England and southern Scotland...
. They played a prominent role in eighth century Northumbrian politics, providing several kings and prelates.
The death of King Osred
Osred I of Northumbria
Osred was king of Northumbria from 705 until his death. He was the son of King Aldfrith of Northumbria. Aldfrith's only known wife was Cuthburg, but it is not certainly known whether Osred was her son...
son of Aldfrith
Aldfrith of Northumbria
Aldfrith sometimes Aldfrid, Aldfridus , or Flann Fína mac Ossu , was king of Northumbria from 685 until his death. He is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning, and some of his works, as well as letters written to him, survive...
in 716 ended the era when Northumbria
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...
was ruled by direct descendants of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia. Although another direct descendant of Æthelfrith—Osric
Osric of Northumbria
Osric was king of Northumbria from the death of Coenred in 718 until his death on the 9th of May, 729. Symeon of Durham calls him a son of Aldfrith of Northumbria, which would make him a brother, or perhaps a half-brother, of Osred...
—ruled Northumbria from 718 to 729, and the last of Aldfrith's sons, Offa, did not die until 750, the rulership of Northumbria first came to the Leodwaldings in 716.
The genealogy in the Historia Brittonum makes the Leodwaldings descendants of a son of Ida named Ocg. The family name is taken from Leodwald son of Ecgwulf, grandfather of the first prominent members of the family. Two sons of Leodwald are known from genealogies of their descendants: Cuthwine and Eata.
The first prominent members of the family are Cuthwine's sons Coenred
Coenred of Northumbria
Coenred was king of Northumbria from 716 to 718. John of Fordun claims that he murdered his predecessor Osred. He was described as a member of the Leodwaldings, a kindred descended from Ocg son of Ida of Bernicia, and was the first of the family to rule Northumbria.William of Malmesbury calls him...
(ruled 716–718) and Ceolwulf
Ceolwulf of Northumbria
Ceolwulf was king of Northumbria from 729 until 737, except for a short period in 731 or 732 when he was deposed, and quickly restored to power. Ceolwulf finally abdicated and entered the monastery at Lindisfarne. He was the "most glorious king" to whom Bede dedicated his Historia ecclesiastica...
(ruled 729–737 or 738; died 764). No descendants of Cuthwine's sons are known. The two known sons of Eata were the dominant figures of mid-eighth century Northumbria. Ecgberht was Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
from 734 until 766. Ecgberht's brother Eadberht
Eadberht of Northumbria
Eadberht was king of Northumbria from 737 or 738 to 758. He was the brother of Ecgbert, Archbishop of York. His reign is seen as a return to the imperial ambitions of seventh-century Northumbria and may represent a period of economic prosperity. He faced internal opposition from rival dynasties...
was king from Ceolwulf's abdication in 737 or 738 until his own abdication in 758.
Eadberht's son Oswulf
Oswulf of Northumbria
Oswulf was king of Northumbria from 758 to 759. He succeeded his father Eadberht, who had abdicated and joined the monastery at York. Oswulf's uncle was Ecgbert, Archbishop of York....
was king for less than a year, but Oswulf's son Ælfwald
Ælfwald I of Northumbria
Ælfwald was king of Northumbria from 778 to 788. He is thought to have been a son of Oswulf, and thus a grandson of Eadberht Eating.Ælfwald became king after Æthelred son of Æthelwald Moll was deposed in 778...
ruled from 779 until his murder in 788 and was considered a saint at Hexham Abbey
Hexham Abbey
Hexham Abbey is a place of Christian worship dedicated to St Andrew and located in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, in northeast England. Since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537, the Abbey has been the parish church of Hexham.-History:...
where his remains were buried. Ælfwald left two sons, Ælf and Ælfwine, who were killed in 791 on the orders of King Æthelred
Æthelred I of Northumbria
Æthelred was king of Northumbria from 774 to 779 and again from 788 or 789 until his murder in 796. He became king after Alhred was deposed...
. Eadberht's daughter Osgifu married Alhred
Alhred of Northumbria
Alhred or Alchred was king of Northumbria from 765 to 774. He had married Osgifu, either the daughter of Oswulf, granddaughter of Eadberht Eating, or Eadberht's daughter, and was thus related by marriage to Ecgbert, Archbishop of York...
, king from 765 to 774. They had two known sons. Osred
Osred II of Northumbria
Osred was king of Northumbria from 789 to 790. He was the son of Alhred and Osgifu, daughter of Eadberht.He succeeded Ælfwald, son of his mother's brother Oswulf, who was murdered by the patricius Sicga....
was king from 788 to 790, killed by Æthelred when attempting to retake power in 792. Alhmund
Alcmund of Derby
Alcmund of Derby or of Lilleshall, also spelt Ealhmund, Alhmund, Alkmund, or Alchmund was son of Alhred of Northumbria. After more than twenty years in exile among the Picts as a result of Northumbrian dynastic struggles, he returned with an army...
was killed in 800 on the orders of King Eardwulf
Eardwulf of Northumbria
Eardwulf was king of Northumbria from 796 to 806, when he was deposed and went into exile. He may have had a second reign from 808 until perhaps 811 or 830. Northumbria in the last years of the eighth century was the scene of dynastic strife between several noble families, and, in 790, the...
. He too was considered a saint and martyr.
Æthelberht, Ecgberht's successor as Archbishop, is described as his kinsman by Alcuin
Alcuin
Alcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
, but there is no evidence that he was a Leodwalding.