Æthelwold of Deira

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Æthelwold was a King of Deira (651–c. 655). He was the son of king Oswald of Northumbria, who was killed at the Battle of Maserfield in 642.

After Oswine of Deira was killed by Oswiu of Bernicia in 651, Æthelwold became king; it is uncertain whether Oswiu (who was Æthelwold's uncle) installed him as king or whether Æthelwold took the kingship in opposition to Oswiu.^[1] He subsequently allied himself with Oswiu's enemy, Penda of Mercia, and assisted Penda during his invasion of Northumbria in 655. However, when the armies of Oswiu and Penda met on November 15 at the Battle of the Winwaed, Æthelwold withdrew his forces. Penda was defeated and killed,^[2] perhaps in part because of this desertion, and afterward Æthelwold seems to have lost Deira to Alchfrith, who was installed there by the victorious Oswiu. Æthelwold's fate is unknown, as nothing is known of him after the battle.^[3]

Although he allied himself with the pagan Penda, Æthelwold was a pious Christian and was remembered for his generosity towards St. Chad, to whom he granted land for a monastery.

[edit] References

1. ^ D. P. Kirby, The Earliest English Kings (1991, 2000), page 78.
2. ^ Bede, H. E., book III, chapter 24.
3. ^ Kirby, page 81.

Preceded by Oswine

King of Deira

Succeeded by Alchfrith