Edwin

Also known as: King Edwin / the illustrious Edwin / your husband / your illustrious consort · Family: Northumbrians · Role: king · First appears: Book II · Chap. IX

In c. 624, Edwin married Ethelberg, joining the Northumbrian and Kentish royal houses, and their daughter Eanfled was born that Easter. That same year, Eumer, sent by Cuichelm, attacked him with a poisoned dagger; Lilla died shielding him, and Edwin later marched against the West-Saxons involved in the conspiracy. While Ethelberg had embraced Christianity, Edwin remained an idolater and received exhortation from Boniface. After many years as an exile while persecuted by Ethelfrid, he found protection with Redwald, who ultimately refused to surrender him and helped him recover his kingdom; after Ethelfrid’s death, Edwin took the throne.

At length, Paulinus urged Edwin to fulfil his vow. In 627, at York, Edwin and many of his people received baptism—“King Edwin, therefore, with all the nobility of the nation, and a large number of the common sort, received the faith”—after which he gave Paulinus an episcopal see and began building a larger stone church under his direction. Edwin also persuaded Earpwald to accept the Christian faith, established drinking vessels beside clear springs for travellers, and received letters from Pope Honorius urging him to persevere. His children by Ethelberg—Ethelhun, Ethelthryth, daughter of Edwin, and Wuscfrea—were baptized, while Osfrid and Eadfrid, born during his banishment to Quenburga, were also his sons.

In 633, Caedwalla, supported by Penda, rebelled against Edwin. Edwin was killed at Haethfelth on 12 October, ending his reign; the church he had begun was later finished by Oswald. His wider kin included his sister Acha, her son Oswald, his cousin Osric, and his nephew Hereric.