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New page: Oswald was a King of Northumbria in the 7th century AD. Northumbria was a kingdom in the north east of Britain, founded by Angles in the mid to late 6th century. It was divided int...
Oswald was a King of Northumbria in the 7th century AD. Northumbria was a kingdom in the north east of [[Britain]], founded by [[Angles]] in the mid to late 6th century. It was divided into two parts, Bernicia north of the River Tees and Deira to the south, these names being of [[Celtic]] origin. Oswald's father was Æthelfrith, a powerful man of the Bernician royal house. On his death the Deiran royal house took over under Edwin, and Oswald and his brothers went into exile amongst the [[Scots]]. Here, probably on [[Iona]], tehy werew converted to Christianity. When [[Penda]] slew Edwin around AD 632, Oswald’s brother Osric became king of Northumbria, but went apostate, and did not last a year as king. Oswald then returned to his homeland and soon had to lead an army into battle at Heavenfield near Hadrians’s Wall, defeating a larger army led by Cadwallon of Gwynedd, ([[Wales]]), who wanted to destroy the power of the [[Angles]] in the north. Oswald had erected a wooden cross over the site at the start of the battle, and because of his victory, called to Iona for monks to convert his kingdom to Christianity. Aidan (and his monks) took [[Lindisfarne]] as a base and evangelised the Northumbrians, baptising hundreds in the rivers, and became Oswald’s friend. Oswald was succeeded by his brother Oswy, who defeated Penda in AD 654.