Osthryth
Encyclopedia
Osthryth was the daughter of Oswiu of Northumbria
and the wife of King Æthelred of Mercia. She was murdered by the nobles of Mercia
. She is referred to by Bede as Queen Ostritha.
By a complex chain of reasoning, we can deduce that Osthryth's first husband was Eanhere, King of the Hwicce
and that they had sons named Osric, Oswald and Oshere. That would explain why Osric and Oswald are described as Æthelred's nepotes – usually translated as nephews or grandsons, but here probably meaning stepsons.
Æthelred certainly seems to have gained overlordship of the Hwicce, treating Osric as a sub-king. If Osthryth's sons were young at the time of their father's death, then Æthelred could have taken them into his household and ruled on their behalf.
Osthryth was not the first of her family to become a Mercian queen. Her sister Alhflæd had married Peada, King of South Mercia 654-656. After Peada's death in battle, it seems that Alhflæd retreated to Fladbury
in Worcestershire, to judge from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and its subsequent history. Sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor
, Bishop of Worcester
, to re-establish monastic life there.S76 However this grant was later contested. Æthelheard
, son of Oshere, maintained that Æthelred had no right to give Fladbury away, as it had been the property of Osthryth. Æthelheard claimed it as her kinsman and heir. Here we have the crucial evidence that Osthryth was related to Oshere and his descendants.
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured the abbey of Bardney
in Lincolnshire
. Osthryth placed there the bones of her uncle Oswald of Northumbria
, who was venerated as a saint. It is clear from this story that Osthryth played a part in promoting the cult of St Oswald. Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.
Osthryth had to contend with major conflicts of loyalty. In 679 her brother Ecgfrith of Northumbria
fought a battle against Æthelred, in which Ecgfrith's brother Ælfwine was killed. Bede tells us that he was "a young man of about eighteen years of age and much beloved in both kingdoms, for King Æthelred had married his sister."
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it. Given the politics of the time, she may have been seen as some kind of threat to Mercian security. Finberg speculates that she and her son Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.
Oswiu of Northumbria
Oswiu , also known as Oswy or Oswig , was a King of Bernicia. His father, Æthelfrith of Bernicia, was killed in battle, fighting against Rædwald, King of the East Angles and Edwin of Deira at the River Idle in 616...
and the wife of King Æthelred of Mercia. She was murdered by the nobles of Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
. She is referred to by Bede as Queen Ostritha.
By a complex chain of reasoning, we can deduce that Osthryth's first husband was Eanhere, King of the Hwicce
Hwicce
The Hwicce were one of the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England. The exact boundaries of their kingdom are uncertain, though it is likely that they coincided with those of the old Diocese of Worcester, founded in 679–80, the early bishops of which bore the title Episcopus Hwicciorum...
and that they had sons named Osric, Oswald and Oshere. That would explain why Osric and Oswald are described as Æthelred's nepotes – usually translated as nephews or grandsons, but here probably meaning stepsons.
Æthelred certainly seems to have gained overlordship of the Hwicce, treating Osric as a sub-king. If Osthryth's sons were young at the time of their father's death, then Æthelred could have taken them into his household and ruled on their behalf.
Osthryth was not the first of her family to become a Mercian queen. Her sister Alhflæd had married Peada, King of South Mercia 654-656. After Peada's death in battle, it seems that Alhflæd retreated to Fladbury
Fladbury
Fladbury is a traditional English village located in rural Worcestershire, England. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, almost 1,000 years ago. It is sited on the banks of the River Avon, with many interesting and original buildings and features. Cropthorne village is on the opposite...
in Worcestershire, to judge from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and its subsequent history. Sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor
Oftfor
Oftfor was a medieval Bishop of Worcester.He was consecrated in 691. He died after April 693.-References:* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961-External links:*...
, 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...
, to re-establish monastic life there.S76 However this grant was later contested. Æthelheard
Æthelheard of the Hwicce
Æthelheard, King of Hwicce jointly with his presumed brothers Æthelweard, Æthelberht, and Æthelric. It is probable that they were all sons of Oshere, although the paternity of Æthelheard and Æthelberht is not explicitly stated in surviving documents.In 692, together with Æthelweard, issued a...
, son of Oshere, maintained that Æthelred had no right to give Fladbury away, as it had been the property of Osthryth. Æthelheard claimed it as her kinsman and heir. Here we have the crucial evidence that Osthryth was related to Oshere and his descendants.
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured the abbey of Bardney
Bardney
Bardney is a village and Civil Parish east of Lincoln, sitting on the north side of the River Witham in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-The village:...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. Osthryth placed there the bones of her uncle Oswald of Northumbria
Oswald of Northumbria
Oswald was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death, and is now venerated as a Christian saint.Oswald was the son of Æthelfrith of Bernicia and came to rule after spending a period in exile; after defeating the British ruler Cadwallon ap Cadfan, Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of...
, who was venerated as a saint. It is clear from this story that Osthryth played a part in promoting the cult of St Oswald. Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.
Osthryth had to contend with major conflicts of loyalty. In 679 her brother Ecgfrith of Northumbria
Ecgfrith of Northumbria
King Ecgfrith was the King of Northumbria from 670 until his death. He ruled over Northumbria when it was at the height of its power, but his reign ended with a disastrous defeat in which he lost his life.-Early life:...
fought a battle against Æthelred, in which Ecgfrith's brother Ælfwine was killed. Bede tells us that he was "a young man of about eighteen years of age and much beloved in both kingdoms, for King Æthelred had married his sister."
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it. Given the politics of the time, she may have been seen as some kind of threat to Mercian security. Finberg speculates that she and her son Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.