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Eadwulf I (died AD 717) was king ofNorthumbria from the death ofAldfrith in December 704 until February or March of 705, when Aldfrith's sonOsred was restored to the throne.
| Eadwulf I | |
|---|---|
| King of Northumbria | |
| Reign | 704–705 |
| Predecessor | Aldfirth |
| Successor | Osred |
| Died | 717 |
Osred was a child when his father died, and it is assumed that Eadwulf I usurped the throne. Eadwulf's relationship, if any, to the ruling dynasty, descendants ofIda, is not known, but it is quite possible that he was indeed of royal descent as two or more other branches of the Eoppingas are found as kings of Northumbria after the extinction of the main line.
Initially Eadwulf I appears to have had the support of ealdormanBerhtfrith son of Berhtred, presumed to be the lord of the north-east frontier of Bernicia, inLothian and along theForth. However, a crisis soon arose. BishopWilfrid, exiled by Aldfrith, wished to return to Northumbria. Eadwulf I aimed to keep the bishop in exile, but Berhtfirth appears to have supported Wilfrid's return. A short civil war, ending with a siege ofBamburgh, was won by Berhtfrith, Wilfrid and the supporters of Osred, and Osred was restored as child-king of Northumbria.
Eadwulf I appears to have been exiled to eitherDál Riata orPictland as his death is reported by theAnnals of Ulster in 717. His son Earnwine was killed on the orders ofEadberht of Northumbria in 740. Eadwulf I great-grandsonEardwulf and Eardwulf's sonEanred were later kings of Northumbria.
| Preceded by | King of Northumbria 704–705 | Succeeded by |