Oswy

Also known as: King Oswy · Family: Northumbrians · Role: king · First appears: Book II · Chap. V

Around 642, Oswy recovered the remains of his brother Oswald, burying his head at Lindisfarne and his hands and arms in his royal city. In 644, at about thirty, he succeeded Oswald as king of his earthly kingdom; that same year, at Ingetlingum, he ordered his reeve Ethilwin to murder Oswin and his thegn Tondhere, while Eanfled was brought from Kent as his intended wife. His family included his son Alchfrid, his nephew Oidilwald, and later his daughters Alchfled and Elfled; Oidilwald would oppose him, and Alchfrid would attack him alongside the pagan Mercians.

Around 653, Oswy counselled Sigbert “like a brother” until Sigbert accepted the Christian faith, and he sent Cedd to preach to the East Saxons. He fought Penda, who had slain Oswald, killing him at Loidis, ending Mercian heathen rule, converting the Mercians and adjacent provinces, and subduing much of the Picts; he then gave the Southern Mercians to Peada, his kinsman and Penda’s son. Afterward, Immin, Eafa, and Eadbert rebelled and set up Wulfhere, while Oidilwald joined their side. Oswy dedicated the infant Elfled to perpetual virginity, granted twelve estates for monasteries, and, at Eanfled’s request, gave Trumhere a place to build a monastery in expiation for Oswin’s death.

At the synod at Streanaeshalch, Oswy ordered Colman, Agilbert, and Wilfrid to explain their ecclesiastical customs. He accepted Colman’s request that Eata become abbot over those remaining at Lindisfarne, and later sent Ceadda to be ordained bishop of York with his priest Eadhaed. With Egbert (king of Kent), he selected Wighard and sent him to Rome for ordination; the material also says that Oswy was converted to the true Apostolic faith. In 668, he and Egbert (king of Kent) again sent Wighard to Rome for the archbishopric, and not long after, with Oswy’s advice and consent, Wilfrid was sent to Gaul to be consecrated bishop.