Osmund I
(854 - 881)
Osmund I ("the One-Legged") was born in 837 as son of King Beorhtric I and Aethelburg Eadwulfing. He became Earl of Surrey in 853 and, just a few months later, King of England in 854 at the age of 16 years.
He was married to Fedelm Eóganacht, daughter of an Irish lord. They had five children:
Balthild (* 855; + 878)
Ecgfrida (* 857)
Edmund (* 859)
Aelfgard (* 862)
Edward (* 866)
Illegitimate children were not uncommon at that time, but usually they were not mentioned, but sources report about another daughter called Wulfgifu (+ 878). Her mother is unknown.
Osmund died in 881 in Winchester after an illness at the age of 43 years.
The Viking Threat
Just like his predecessors, Osmund had to deal with annual raids by numerous Viking groups. According to studies, only three years of his reign saw no enemy invasions with the bulk of the roughly 90 documented raids being performed along the east coast.
During the first years of his reign he seemed to have led his army personally in a number of skirmishes versus the Vikings. But rather soon, probably in 856 or 857, he was seriously injured, leading to his epithet "the One-Footed". He did not lose one of his legs, but he must have been restricted in his mobility, although it is unclear to which extent.
An interesting episode happened in 874. According to the Waltham Chronicles two different Viking groups raided the countryside in Essex, but cooperated in a battle versus the English army. The Viking force was destroyed and their leaders, Asbjörn Ulfing and Pordr, were captured and shortly later executed in Winchester. Comparative studies showed, that the origin of these men was southern Sweden and, in Pordr`s case, the coastal region of Lithuania.
The End of Mercia
Since 841 Wulfgar Iceling "the Accursed" was King of Mercia. He got his epithet in English chronicles, which were naturally biased, hence the reports about his satanic character are most probably exaggerated, although it is also probable, that he was indeed involved in the murder of one of his uncles.
With his realm he had inherited the antagonism to England. Due to the incapability of Cynewulf I there had been no conflicts until 847, but in the following seven years Wulfgar lost more territory to Beorhtric I.
When Osmund I ascended to the throne he followed a permanent policy to destroy the Mercian Kingdom. In three wars between 856 and 879 Osmund conquered the Counties of Worcester, Warwick and finally Leicester, Wulfgar`s crown domain. With his last holding lost, Wulfgar had to flee and probably found refuge at the court of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Developments on the British Isles
With the fall of Mercia, south and central England was under control of Wessex. Domestically the trend of the previous decades continued with an increase of fortified places such as Staines Castle. Additionally the urban culture experienced a boost with the description of an "academy" in Lynn. Historians still debate, whether this was either yet another of the numerous cathedral schools, which existed in the country, or if it was the first precursor of a University. Anyway the cities began to play a more important role as well in the economic as cultural sector.
In northern England an unstable balance between Northumbria, Lancaster and York was maintained, although Northumbria experienced internal unrest, when the Earl of Cumberland rebelled versus the King.
When Aniel Uib succeeded to the French throne in 819, he was King of France from his mother`s side and King of Pictland from his father`s side. But soon the Scottish lords began to rebel under the leadership of a side branch of the Uib Clan, which formed the Kingdom of Alban and eventually, in 863, usurped the title of Kingdom of Pictland.
A few years later King Girom of Pictland made claims toward the Duchy of Ulster and sent an army to northern Ireland. After some initial successes, an Alliance of Catholic rulers mobilized their armies against the Waldensian Pict King and later that year an English army set foot on Irish soil for the first time to defeat the Pict army. In 869 King Girom surrendered and Ireland was kept free of his influence.
Fig. 8: The British Isles in 881
Wales and Ireland saw some dynastic changes in the late 9th century. In 829 Duke Anarawd "the Cruel" of Powys had died and his grandson Tomaltach became his successor. Since Tomaltach was the son of Anarawd`s daughter and King Drust "the Shadow" of Mide, he also inherited the Kingdom after Drust`s death in 864 and the two realms remained united since then.
Family
Little is known about the family life of the rulers in the early medieval. Osmund I is insofar an exception, as we have small notes concerning his daughters. Daughters were usually objects for political marriages, but Osmund`s oldest daughter Balthild was allowed to live as nun in a monastery. Another interesting fact is, that Wulfgifu, an illegitimate child, lived with his other children at court. We know about this due to the fact, that these two women died within days in 878 and some appropriate notes in the Winchester Chronicles.
Another revealing fact is, that there were rather strong dynastic ties between England and the Byzantine Empire in the second half of the 9th century. Osmund`s uncle Edgar was married to Barbara Isauros, youngest of five children of Emperor Ioulianos III "the Unready". Although she was not in a leading position in the line of succession, she was nevertheless "born in the purple" and thus had a strong claim to the Byzantine throne.
Late years
Osmund`s last years are characterized by two events. He spent the year 877 outside his realm and made a pilgrimage to Rome. Although pilgrimages are not uncommon in Christianity, the reason for this undertaking is unknown. Pilgrimages were usually done as penance or thanksgiving. Historians tend to the latter, since his pilgrimage was done immediately after his oldest son reached adulthood and was married.
The second event was the so-called "Tournament of Westminster" in 879. The Westminster Chronicles state, that Leofhelm Dodington won the military games near Westminster. Equestrian practice was common in the early medieval, but Tournaments, where Knights competed in mock fights, peaked in the 12th and 13th century. It is a debated fact, whether the mentioned event was indeed an early form of a Tournament or simply a military exercise.
Aftermath
Osmund I enjoys a high popularity since the 19th century, when a highly romantic and nationalist version of his life was established. Passages in sources concerning "Academies" and "Tournaments" were taken at face value, with Osmund being a patron of science and a "First Knight". His campaign in Ulster was used as first English claim as protector or even suzerain of Ireland.
Although science has invalidated or relativized many of these conclusions, Osmund remains popular especially in historic novels and among medieval enthusiasts, who still focus on a more idealized picture of a "classic" medieval ruler, who has to be brave, heroic, religious and just.
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