Oswald

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

Oswald, the Northumbrian king, succeeded the faithless kings around c. 633 and was recognized as “a man beloved of God.” After the death of his brother Eanfrid, he defeated and killed the Briton commander Caedwalla at Denisesburna. At Hefenfelth, he raised the Holy Cross and prayed before leading his army to victory. Through his sister Acha, he was nephew to Edwin, whose work he completed as his successor.

As soon as he took the throne, Oswald requested a bishop, and Aidan came to instruct his people. Oswald appointed Aidan’s see on Lindisfarne, listened to his teaching, helped extend the Church, and interpreted his preaching for his ealdormen and thegns. He gave lands for monasteries, brought the nations and provinces of Britain under his dominion, peacefully united Deiri and Bernicia, and gave his royal feast and silver dish to the poor. In Cynegils’ presence, he attended the king’s baptism, having first adopted him as his son, and with Cynegils gave Dorcic to Birinus for an episcopal see.

Oswald was killed by the pagan Mercians at Maserfelth around c. 640, after praying for the souls of his army. His hands and arms were said to remain uncorrupted; in c. 642, Osthryth arranged for his bones to be honored at Beardaneu, where a pillar of light appeared over them, while Oswy recovered his head and buried it at Lindisfarne the next year. Oswald was translated to the heavenly kingdom in 644, when Oswy succeeded him, and his memory continued to be associated with healings and yearly Masses; in c. 678, Eappa confirmed that he had been killed on that day and taken up to Heaven.