Biography of Osred King Northumbria 697-716

Paternal Family Tree: Bernicia

Battle of Dun Nechtain

On 20 May 685 Bridei III Picts (age 57) defeated the Northumbrian army at the Battle of Dun Nechtain.

[his uncle] King Ecgfrith of Northumbria (age 40) was killed at Dunnichen, Angus. His half brother [his father] Aldfrith King Northumbria succeeded King Northumbria.

Around 697 Osred King Northumbria was born to Aldfrith King Northumbria and Cuthburh Wessex Queen Consort Northumbria.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 14 Dec 704. This year died [his father] Ealdferth, king of the Northumbrians, on the nineteenth day before the calends of January [14 Dec 704], at Driffield [Map]; and was succeeded by his son Osred (age 7). Bishop Saxulf also died the same year.

On 14 Dec 704 [his father] Aldfrith King Northumbria died. His son Osred King Northumbria (age 7) succeeded King Northumbria.

Bede. 705. How the South Saxons received Eadbert and Eolla and the West Saxons Daniel and Aldhelm for their bishops; and of the writings of the same Aldhelm. [705 a.d.]

In the year of our Lord 705, [his father] Aldfrid, king of the Northumbrians, died before the end of the twentieth year of his reign. His son Osred (age 8), a boy about eight years of age, succeeding him in the throne, reigned eleven years. In the beginning of his reign, Haedde, bishop of the West Saxons, departed to the heavenly life; for he was a good man and a just, and his life and doctrine as a bishop were guided rather by his innate love of virtue, than by what he had gained from books. The most reverend bishop, Pechthelm, of whom we shall speak hereafter in the proper place, and who while still deacon or monk was for a long time with his successor Aldhelm (age 66), was wont to relate that many miracles of healing have been wrought in the place where he died, through the merit of his sanctity; and that the men of that province used to carry the dust thence for the sick, and put it into water, and the drinking thereof, or sprinkling with it, brought health to many sick men and beasts; so that the holy dust being frequently carried away, a great hole was made there.

Upon his death, the bishopric of that province was divided into two dioceses. One of them was given to Daniel, which he governs to this day; the other to Aldhelm (age 66), wherein he presided most vigorously four years; both of them were fully instructed, as well in matters touching the Church as in the knowledge of the Scriptures. Aldhelm (age 66), when he was as yet only a priest and abbot of the monastery which is called the city of Maildufus [Map], by order of a synod of his own nation, wrote a notable book against the error of the Britons, in not celebrating Easter at the due time, and in doing divers other things contrary to the purity of doctrine and the peace of the church; and through the reading of this book many of the Britons, who were subject to the West Saxons, were led by him to adopt the Catholic celebration of our Lord's Paschal Feast. He likewise wrote a famous book on Virginity, which, after the example of Sedulius, he composed in twofold form, in hexameters and in prose. He wrote some other books, being a man most instructed in all respects, for he had a polished style, and was, as I have said, of marvellous learning both in liberal and ecclesiastical studies. On his death, Forthere was made bishop in his stead, and is living at this time, being likewise a man very learned in the Holy Scriptures.

Whilst they administered the bishopric, it was determined by a synodal decree, that the province of the South Saxons, which till that time belonged to the diocese of the city of Winchester, where Daniel then presided, should itself have an episcopal see, and a bishop of its own. Eadbert, at that time abbot of the monastery [Map] of Bishop Wilfrid, of blessed memory, called Selaeseu [Map], was consecrated their first bishop. On his death, Eolla succeeded to the office of bishop. He also died some years ago, and the bishopric has been vacant to this day.

Bede. In the fourth year of the reign of Osred (age 12), Coenred, who had for some time nobly governed the kingdom of the Mercians, much more nobly quitted the sceptre of his kingdom. For he went to Rome, Italy, and there receiving the tonsure and becoming a monk, when Constantine (age 45) was pope, he continued to his last hour in prayer and fasting and alms-deeds at the threshold of the Apostles. He was succeeded in the throne by Ceolred, the son of Ethelred, who had governed the kingdom before Coenred. With him went the son of Sighere, the king of the East Saxons whom we mentioned before, by name Offa, a youth of a most pleasing age and comeliness, and greatly desired by all his nation to have and to hold the sceptre of the kingdom. He, with like devotion, quitted wife, and lands, and kindred and country, for Christ and for the Gospel, that he might "receive an hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting." He also, when they came to the holy places at Rome, received the tonsure, and ending his life in the monastic habit, attained to the vision of the blessed Apostles in Heaven, as he had long desired.

The same year that they departed from Britain, the great bishop, Wilfrid, ended his days in the province called Inundalum [Map], after he had been bishop forty-five years. His body, being laid in a coffin, was carried to his monastery, which is called Inhrypum, and buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, with the honour due to so great a prelate. Concerning whose manner of life, let us now turn back, and briefly make mention of the things which were done. Being a boy of a good disposition, and virtuous beyond his years, he conducted himself so modestly and discreetly in all points, that he was deservedly beloved, respected, and cherished by his elders as one of themselves. At fourteen years of age he chose rather the monastic than the secular life; which, when he had signified to his father, for his mother was dead, he readily consented to his godly wishes and desires, and advised him to persist in that wholesome purpose. Wherefore he came to the isle of Lindisfarne [Map], and there giving himself to the service of the monks, he strove diligently to learn and to practise those things which belong to monastic purity and piety; and being of a ready wit, he speedily learned the psalms and some other books, having not yet received the tonsure, but being in no small measure marked by those virtues of humility and obedience which are more important than the tonsure; for which reason he was justly loved by his elders and his equals. Having served God some years in that monastery, and being a youth of a good understanding, he perceived that the way of virtue delivered by the Scots was in no wise perfect, and he resolved to go to Rome, to see what ecclesiastical or monastic rites were in use at the Apostolic see. When he told the brethren, they commended his design, and advised him to carry out that which he purposed. He forthwith went to Queen Eanfled, for he was known to her, and it was by her counsel and support that he had been admitted into the aforesaid monastery, and he told her of his desire to visit the threshold of the blessed Apostles. She, being pleased with the youth's good purpose, sent him into Kent, to King Earconbert,8 who was her uncle's son, requesting that he would send him to Rome, Italy in an honourable manner. At that time, Honorius, one of the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory (age 40), a man very highly instructed in ecclesiastical learning, was archbishop there. When he had tarried there for a space, and, being a youth of an active spirit, was diligently applying himself to learn those things which came under his notice, another youth, called Biscop, surnamed Benedict, of the English nobility, arrived there, being likewise desirous to go to Rome, of whom we have before made mention.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 716. This year Osred (age 19), king of the Northumbrians, was slain near the southern borders. He reigned eleven winters after [his father] Ealdferth. [his grandfather] Cenred then succeeded to the government, and held it two years; then Osric, who held it eleven years. This same year died Ceolred, king of the Mercians. His body lies at Lichfield [Map]; but that of Ethelred, the son of Penda, at Bardney [Map]. Ethelbald then succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia, and held it one and forty winters. Ethelbald was the son of Alwy, Alwy of Eawa, Eawa of Webba, whose genealogy is already written. The venerable Egbert (age 77) about this time converted the monks of Iona to the right faith, in the regulation of Easter, and the ecclesiastical tonsure.

In 716 Osred King Northumbria (age 19) was killed.

Osred King Northumbria 697-716 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Ida King Bernicia 559

Yffe Deira

Royal Ancestors of Osred King Northumbria 697-716

Kings Bernicia: Great x 2 Grand Son of Æthelric King Bernicia

Kings Deira: Great x 2 Grand Son of Aella King Deira

Kings Wessex: Great x 4 Grand Son of Ceawlin King Wessex

Ancestors of Osred King Northumbria 697-716

Great x 4 Grandfather: Eoppa Bernicia

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ida King Bernicia

Great x 2 Grandfather: Æthelric King Bernicia

Great x 1 Grandfather: Æthelfrith King Northumbrians

GrandFather: King Oswiu of Northumbria

Great x 3 Grandfather: Yffe Deira

Great x 2 Grandfather: Aella King Deira

Great x 1 Grandmother: Acha Queen Consort Northumbria

Father: Aldfrith King Northumbria

Osred King Northumbria

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ceawlin King Wessex

Great x 3 Grandfather: Cuthwine

Great x 2 Grandfather: Cuthwulf Wessex

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ceolwald Wessex

GrandFather: Cenred Wessex

Mother: Cuthburh Wessex Queen Consort Northumbria