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Oswald (Old English: Osuualde, c 604 – 5 August 642) was King of Northumbria (in northern England) from 634 until his death, and is venerated as a saint, of whom there was a particular cult in the Middle Ages.
Oswald was the son of Æthelfrith of Bernicia and came to rule after spending a period in exile. 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. After eight years of rule, in which he was the most powerful ruler in Britain, Oswald was killed in the Battle of Maserfield. The main source of information on Oswald comes from the 8th-century historian Bede the Venerable, who regarded Oswald as a saintly king.
Oswald in St. Oswald's Niche[]
Relics associated with Saint Oswald, which may have included pieces of the monarch's mortal remains, were discovered by an archaeological expedition in 1991, at Oswald's namesake abbey in York. However, media attention regarding this find was muted, due to the sensational melodrama involving the relics of Archbishop Gerard found by the same expedition.
| Royal offices (OTL) | ||
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| Preceded by Eanfrith |
King of Bernicia 634 - 642 |
Succeeded by Oswiu |
| Preceded by Osric |
King of Deira 633 - 642 | |
| Preceded by Edwin of Northumbria |
Bretwalda 633 – 642 | |
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