Alhfrith or Ealhfrith (c. 630 – c. 664) was King of Deira under his father Oswiu, King of Bernicia, from 655 until sometime after 664. Appointed by Oswiu as a subordinate ruler, Alhfrith apparently clashed with his father over religious policy, which came to a head at the Synod of Whitby in 664. After this, Alhfrith disappears from the historical record.
Alhfrith was the oldest son of Oswiu, who became King of Bernicia in 642. His mother was Oswiu's first wife, Rieinmelth, granddaughter of king Rhun of Rheged; the marriage also produced a daughter, Alhflaed. Both children were likely born in the 630s.[1] In the early 650s, when Alhfrith was a young man, Oswiu had him married to Cyneburh, daughter of Oswiu's great rival Penda of Mercia. Shortly after, Alhflaed married Penda's son Peada. Alhflaed, a devout Christian, urged Peada to convert.[2][3]
Relations between Oswiu and Penda remained contentious, and Penda invaded Bernicia with a large army in 655.[4] One of Penda's allies was Œthelwald, king of Deira and Oswiu's nephew; Oswiu considered Deira part of his realm and Œthelwald his sub-king, but resistance to his rule continued throughout his reign.[5] Alhfrith served in his father's significantly smaller army as they pursued Penda. Their forces caught Penda's at the Battle of the Winwaed; Œthelwald and others withdrew their troops at a critical moment, which contributed to Oswiu winning a decisive victory in which Penda was killed.[5][4]
The victory enabled Oswiu to re-establish his control over Deira. He evidently removed Œthelwald and installed Alhfrith as a sub-king under him.[5][6] However, Deiran resistance to Oswiu's rule continued under Alhfrith, who may have tried to use it to assert his independence.[5] Alhfrith initially followed his father in adhering to Celtic Christianity, which practiced certain customs at odds with those endorsed by the Bishop of Canterbury and Continental Europe. However, he soon began challenging his father's policies of preferring the Celtic practices. Around 658, Alhfrith's ally Cenwalh introduced him to Wilfrid, a Northumbrian churchman who had studied in Europe and strongly advocated the Roman customs. Subsequently, he began openly challenging the Celtic customs and his father's policies.[7] In 664, Oswiu convened the Synod of Whitby to determine which form of Christianity Northumbria would follow; Alhfrith served as a key proponent of Wilfrid and the Roman system, which ultimately prevailed.[5]
Alhfrith requested that Wilfrid be made bishop for Deira, most likely with a see at York. Apparently with Oswiu's consent, Wilfrid traveled to Gaul to be consecrated, as he did not consider any bishops in Great Britain or Ireland to be validly consecrated; he did not return until around 666. In the mid-660s, Alhfrith requested to go on pilgrimage to Rome with Benedict Biscop, which Oswiu forbade. Alhfrith subsequently vanishes from the historical record. In the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede mentions that Alhfrith "attacked" his father. David Kirby suggests that Alhfrith may have participated and died in a rebellion against Oswiu, perhaps inspired by their continuing religious differences, Alhfrith's anxieties about the rise of his half-brother Ecgfrith, or Oswiu's military aspirations to the north that shifted focus away from Deira in the south.[8]
According to later tradition, Oswiu replaced Alhfrith as King of Deira with his brother Ecgfrith, who subsequently became king of Bernicia and installed another brother, Ælfwine, in Deira.[9] It is not clear if Alhfrith had children; it is possible that the later Northumbrian king Osric was his son, though he may have been the son of Aldfrith.[10]
Bede's Ecclesiastical History and the Continuation of Bede (pdf), at CCEL, translated by A.M. Sellar.
Bede's Lives of the Abbots of Wearmouth and Jarrow at Internet Medieval Sourcebook, translated by J. A. Giles.
March 29, 2023
alhfrith, ealhfrith, king, deira, under, father, oswiu, king, bernicia, from, until, sometime, after, appointed, oswiu, subordinate, ruler, apparently, clashed, with, father, over, religious, policy, which, came, head, synod, whitby, after, this, disappears, f. Alhfrith or Ealhfrith c 630 c 664 was King of Deira under his father Oswiu King of Bernicia from 655 until sometime after 664 Appointed by Oswiu as a subordinate ruler Alhfrith apparently clashed with his father over religious policy which came to a head at the Synod of Whitby in 664 After this Alhfrith disappears from the historical record AlhfrithKing of DeiraReign655 664 ADPredecessorAEthelwoldSuccessorEcgfrithBornc 630Diedc 664ConsortCyneburhIssueRumwold FatherOswiuMotherRieinmelth Contents 1 Life 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksLife EditAlhfrith was the oldest son of Oswiu who became King of Bernicia in 642 His mother was Oswiu s first wife Rieinmelth granddaughter of king Rhun of Rheged the marriage also produced a daughter Alhflaed Both children were likely born in the 630s 1 In the early 650s when Alhfrith was a young man Oswiu had him married to Cyneburh daughter of Oswiu s great rival Penda of Mercia Shortly after Alhflaed married Penda s son Peada Alhflaed a devout Christian urged Peada to convert 2 3 Relations between Oswiu and Penda remained contentious and Penda invaded Bernicia with a large army in 655 4 One of Penda s allies was Œthelwald king of Deira and Oswiu s nephew Oswiu considered Deira part of his realm and Œthelwald his sub king but resistance to his rule continued throughout his reign 5 Alhfrith served in his father s significantly smaller army as they pursued Penda Their forces caught Penda s at the Battle of the Winwaed Œthelwald and others withdrew their troops at a critical moment which contributed to Oswiu winning a decisive victory in which Penda was killed 5 4 The victory enabled Oswiu to re establish his control over Deira He evidently removed Œthelwald and installed Alhfrith as a sub king under him 5 6 However Deiran resistance to Oswiu s rule continued under Alhfrith who may have tried to use it to assert his independence 5 Alhfrith initially followed his father in adhering to Celtic Christianity which practiced certain customs at odds with those endorsed by the Bishop of Canterbury and Continental Europe However he soon began challenging his father s policies of preferring the Celtic practices Around 658 Alhfrith s ally Cenwalh introduced him to Wilfrid a Northumbrian churchman who had studied in Europe and strongly advocated the Roman customs Subsequently he began openly challenging the Celtic customs and his father s policies 7 In 664 Oswiu convened the Synod of Whitby to determine which form of Christianity Northumbria would follow Alhfrith served as a key proponent of Wilfrid and the Roman system which ultimately prevailed 5 Alhfrith requested that Wilfrid be made bishop for Deira most likely with a see at York Apparently with Oswiu s consent Wilfrid traveled to Gaul to be consecrated as he did not consider any bishops in Great Britain or Ireland to be validly consecrated he did not return until around 666 In the mid 660s Alhfrith requested to go on pilgrimage to Rome with Benedict Biscop which Oswiu forbade Alhfrith subsequently vanishes from the historical record In the Ecclesiastical History of the English People Bede mentions that Alhfrith attacked his father David Kirby suggests that Alhfrith may have participated and died in a rebellion against Oswiu perhaps inspired by their continuing religious differences Alhfrith s anxieties about the rise of his half brother Ecgfrith or Oswiu s military aspirations to the north that shifted focus away from Deira in the south 8 According to later tradition Oswiu replaced Alhfrith as King of Deira with his brother Ecgfrith who subsequently became king of Bernicia and installed another brother AElfwine in Deira 9 It is not clear if Alhfrith had children it is possible that the later Northumbrian king Osric was his son though he may have been the son of Aldfrith 10 Notes Edit Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 75 Yorke Kings and Kingdoms p 82 Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 79 a b Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 81 a b c d e Yorke Kings and Kingdoms p 79 Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 81 87 Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 87 Kirby The Earliest English Kings pp 88 89 Kirby The Earliest English Kings p 8 81 89 Kirby The Earliest English Kings pp 92 123 References EditKirby David P The Earliest English Kings London Unwin Hyman 1991 ISBN 0 04 445691 3 Yorke Barbara Kings and Kingdoms in Early Anglo Saxon England London Seaby 1990 ISBN 1 85264 027 8External links Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1885 1900 Dictionary of National Biography s article about Alchfrith Ealhfrith 1 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England Bede s Ecclesiastical History and the Continuation of Bede pdf at CCEL translated by A M Sellar Bede s Lives of the Abbots of Wearmouth and Jarrow at Internet Medieval Sourcebook translated by J A Giles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alhfrith amp oldid 1102286944, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
