Oswald de Northumbrie

Oswald de Northumbrie (born in 604, died in 642), was King of Northumbrie of 634 until its death at the time of the Bataille of Maserfield.

Wire Æthelfrith of Bernicie and Acha (family member royal of Deira), it reigned after one period of exile.

It was victorious against Cadwallon ap Cadfan, and thus brought back the Bernicie and the Deira under the cup of the same sovereign. It developed the Christianisme in Northumbrie.

Bède one century after its death, describes it like a Saint and a Martyr.

After 8 years of reign, he dies at the time of the Bataille of Maserfield.

Context, Youth and Exile

The father of Oswald, Æthelfrith, was brilliant directing Bernicie which after a few years of supremacy became King of Deira. He was thus the first to join together 2 kingdoms which would become later the Northumbrie (Bernicie in north, and Deira in the south).

The mother of Oswald, Acha , was member of the royal line of Deira , Æthelfrith being apparently married with this one at the time of the acquisition of Deira.

Oswald would have been born around 604, since Bède writes on him that he died at the 38 years age in 642.

It seems that the conquest of Deira by Æthelfrith took place around 604.

Æthelfrith, victorious warlike since years, in particular against the British natives, was probably killed in 616 by Raedwald of East Anglia. This defeat brought an exiled member of the royal line of Deira, Edwin (Brother of Acha), with becoming King de Northumbrie. Oswald and its 2 brothers and its sœurfuyèrent towards north, passing the remainder of their youth in the Irish kingdom of Dál Riata where it was converted with the Christianisme.

Sources had been sent and it had only little success. Aidan had more moderated approach. Oswald gave him the island of Lindisfarne. Bède tells that Oswald was the translator at the time of certain sermons, since Aida spoke only little English, and that Oswald had learned Irish at the time of his exile.

Bède attached importance to treat Oswald as a “Saint King” in spite of his death during a battle which could have made it pass for a martyr. It is based on the actions of its life rather than on its death, not being delayed on its martyr. It never used died it besides “martyr” relating to Oswald. He tells the generosity of Oswald for the poor and the foreigners quoting a history to clarify it:

At the time of a dinner with Aidan, learning that the poor were present and asked for alms, Oswald made them give its meal. Very impressed Aidan took the right hand of Oswald while saying to him: " Can this hand never not perish! " .

Bède report/ratio that after its death, the arm and the hand of Oswald remained unaltered.

Fall

There was a conflict with the pagan mercians of Penda. Oswald was killed in 642 during the Bataille of Maserfield which took place at a place generally identified as being the Owestry (several places having been suggested). Its body was dismembered. Bède mentions that Oswald finishes its life while requesting, " for the heart of its soldats" seeing its close end. Its head and its members were placed on spades.

The traditional identification of the place of the battle of Maserfield to Owestry, territory of the Powys in these times, suggests that Penda could have had of the assistance of the British in this battle. Element also suggested by old Welsh poems evoking the participation of people of Powys in the battle.

It was as discussed as if the place is well Owestry, Oswald is then in offensive mode, in the territory of these enemies. What would go against encensement carried out by Bède concerning the " sainteté" of Oswald since an offensive war can only with difficulty be justified to be a war right. Perhaps that explains why Bède remains quiet on the reason for this war, it notes simply that Oswald fought for the " ground of its aïeuls".

It may be that Oswald found in the brother of Penda, Eowa an ally, also killed to him at the time of the battle of Maserfield. It could be that Eowa fought with Oswald against Penda.

After its death

Very quickly Oswald was regarded as a saint. Bède told that miracles arrived close to the place of its death and that people took ground on the site what leads to the digging of a hole reaching the height of a man.

Certain aspects of this legend seem to have a pagan influence. The name of the place “Owestry” or (Oswald' S tree) could come from dead from Oswald and the legends which accompanied it.

Oswald saint fète on August 5th.

Bède tells that Oswiu, brother of Oswald found the remainders of his/her brother the following year.

Its ashes remained with Lindsey in what became Viking Northumbria . Ashes were brought back has Gloucester after an attack of Merciens in 909.

The head of Oswald is buried in the Cathédrale of Dhuram together with the remainders of Cuthbert de Lindisfarne (a saint with which Oswald was associated on a purely posthumous basis, even if they never knew each other since Cuthbert was évèque of Lindisfarne nearly 40 years after the death of Oswald). There are however at least 4 places in continental Europe which protest to have the head of Oswald. One of its arms is supposed to have finished in the Abbaye of Peterborough to the Middle Ages.

Oswald is patron saint of the parish of Lantic in the Coasts of Armor. A statue, in the chorus of the parish church on the left of the high altar, represents it carrying the sceptre, symbol of the royalty.

Sources

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