Oskytel
Encyclopedia
Oscytel was a medieval Bishop of Dorchester
and Archbishop of York
.
Oscytel was probably of Danish ancestry. He was related to Oswald
, Bishop of Worcester
and later Archbishop of York, and Thurcytel
, who was abbot
of Bedford Abbey
. All three men were landowners in the eastern midlands, with Oskytel owning lands at Beeby
, in Leicestershire
. No other information about Oskytel's birth and upbringing is known. A legend stated that his father was a Dane who arrived in England as part of a pagan war band.
Oscytel was selected to the see of Dorchester sometime between 934 and 951, probably pretty close to 951 for the Anglo Saxon Chronicle says that he had been a bishop for twenty-two years when he died. 951 is also when he first attests a charter as bishop. A previous mention of an "Oscetel" as either a sacrist or treasurer in 949 may or may not be the same person. Oskytel only starts showing up consistently after the death of King Eadred of England, who left the bishop some bequests in his will. At first Oskytel supported King Eadwig of England, but in about 958 he switched to supporting Eadwig's brother King Edgar of England
.
Oscytel became archbishop in 958. However, he continued to hold the see of Dorchester along with York, a practice known as pluralism. It is probably due to Oskytel's pluralism that Nottinghamshire was added to the see of York instead of remaining with Dorchester where it had been before. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle from Ramsey says that he went to Rome for his pallium
, but no other sources say that he did so. While archbishop he advanced the career of his kinsman Oswaldv by bringing Oswald to the attention of Dunstan
, and encouraging Oswald's foundation of Ramsey Abbey
. Oskytel also was a benefactor to the new monastic houses that were formed in the fens during his time as archbishop. The precise nature of Oskytel's and Oswald's relationship is unclear, but they were relatives.
Oscytel died on 1 November 971 or on 31 October 971 at Thame
, and was buried at Bedford.
There is an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle version B for the year 971, which says:
Bishop of Dorchester (Roman Catholic)
The Bishop of Dorchester was a bishop in the pre-Reformation Church of England in the Anglo-Saxon period, in charge of the Diocese of Dorchester. His seat, or cathedra, was at the cathedral in Dorchester-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.-History:...
and Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
.
Oscytel was probably of Danish ancestry. He was related to Oswald
Oswald of Worcester
Oswald of Worcester was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a number of years at Fleury, Oswald returned to England at the request of his uncle, who died...
, Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
and later Archbishop of York, and Thurcytel
Thurcytel
Thurcytel was abbot of Crowland and perhaps also of Bedford Abbey.Thurcytel of Crowland is known from the unreliable history of Crowland Abbey attributed to Pseudo-Ingulf, an account full of anachronisms including the claim that Thurcytel was Lord Chancellor of England...
, who was abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Bedford Abbey
Bedford Abbey
Bedford Abbey was a short-lived Benedictine monastery, recorded in 10th century England. Bedford Priory, perhaps representing the same institution two centuries later, was an Augustinian priory that within two decades of its foundation moved to nearby Newnham.Bedford Abbey existed in the...
. All three men were landowners in the eastern midlands, with Oskytel owning lands at Beeby
Beeby
Beeby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England, with a population of about 100. It is situated north-east of Leicester, nearer to the villages of Keyham and Hungarton in the neighbouring district of Harborough. The village lies on the Barkby Brook. The...
, in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. No other information about Oskytel's birth and upbringing is known. A legend stated that his father was a Dane who arrived in England as part of a pagan war band.
Oscytel was selected to the see of Dorchester sometime between 934 and 951, probably pretty close to 951 for the Anglo Saxon Chronicle says that he had been a bishop for twenty-two years when he died. 951 is also when he first attests a charter as bishop. A previous mention of an "Oscetel" as either a sacrist or treasurer in 949 may or may not be the same person. Oskytel only starts showing up consistently after the death of King Eadred of England, who left the bishop some bequests in his will. At first Oskytel supported King Eadwig of England, but in about 958 he switched to supporting Eadwig's brother King Edgar of England
Edgar of England
Edgar the Peaceful, or Edgar I , also called the Peaceable, was a king of England . Edgar was the younger son of Edmund I of England.-Accession:...
.
Oscytel became archbishop in 958. However, he continued to hold the see of Dorchester along with York, a practice known as pluralism. It is probably due to Oskytel's pluralism that Nottinghamshire was added to the see of York instead of remaining with Dorchester where it had been before. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle from Ramsey says that he went to Rome for his pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, but no other sources say that he did so. While archbishop he advanced the career of his kinsman Oswaldv by bringing Oswald to the attention of Dunstan
Dunstan
Dunstan was an Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, a Bishop of Worcester, a Bishop of London, and an Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised as a saint. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church...
, and encouraging Oswald's foundation of Ramsey Abbey
Ramsey Abbey
Ramsey Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey located in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England, southeast of Peterborough and north of Huntingdon, UK.-History:...
. Oskytel also was a benefactor to the new monastic houses that were formed in the fens during his time as archbishop. The precise nature of Oskytel's and Oswald's relationship is unclear, but they were relatives.
Oscytel died on 1 November 971 or on 31 October 971 at Thame
Thame
Thame is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about southwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It derives its toponym from the River Thame which flows past the north side of the town....
, and was buried at Bedford.
There is an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle version B for the year 971, which says:
Here passed away Archbishop Oskytel, who was first consecrated diocesan bishop for Dorchester; and afterwards it was by consent of King Eadred and of all his councillors that he was consecrated archbishop for York city. He was bishop 22 years; and he passed away at Thame on the night of All Saints' Day, 10 days before Martinmas. And Abbot Thurcytel, his relative, carried the bishop's body to Bedford, because he was abbot there in those days.