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Oswald was born about 604.[1]
He was the son of Æthelfrith of Bernicia
Oswald's Anglo-Saxon father, Æthelfrith of Bernicia had defeated the Irish Aedan mac Gabráin in the the battle of Degsastan; in 616, in the battle of the River Idle Æthelfrith was defeated by Rædwald of East Anglia. Rædwald made Edwin the son of Aella of Deira ruler of Æthelfrith's kingdom. Æthelfrith's sons, Oswald and Oswiu were sent into exile on the island of Iona in the Hebrides; given refuge by the Irish of Dál Riata. [1]
'Oswald, the most Christian king of the Northumbrians, reigned nine years' [2]
After defeating the British ruler Cadwallon ap Cadfan, Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler, and promoted the spread of Christianity in Northumbria from his stronghold at Bamburgh. He was given a strongly positive assessment by the historian Bede, writing a little less than a century after Oswald's death, who regarded Oswald as a saintly king; it is also Bede who is the main source for present-day historical knowledge of Oswald. [1]
King Oswald brought St. Aidan and a group of Irish monks from Iona to Northumberland, where they established a monastery and missionary bishopric for the kingdom on the island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island). [3]
Oswald was was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death on 5 August 641 or 642.[1]
Oswald is venerated as a saint,of whom there was a particular cult in the Middle Ages.[1]
After eight years of rule, in which he was the most powerful ruler in Britain, Oswald was killed c. 641 fighting against Penda of Mercia in the Battle of Maserfield.[1]
The precise location of Maserfield is unknown but is believed to be near present day Oswestry, Shropshire.[1]
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K > King of Berncia | B > Bernicia > Oswald (King of Berncia) Bernicia
Categories: Kingdom of Deira | Bernicia | Kingdom of Northumbria | Saints | Battle of Maserfield