https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osthryth
Osthryth (died 697), queen of the Mercians, was the wife of King Æthelred and daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his second wife Eanflæd. She probably married Æthelred before 679 and was murdered by the nobles of Mercia.[1]
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.[2] After Peada's death, who was allegedly murdered with Alhflæd's connivance and possibly Osthryth's as well, she retreated to Fladbury in Worcestershire, to judge both from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and from its subsequent history:[3] sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester, to re-establish monastic life there;[4] however, this grant was later contested by Æthelheard, son of Oshere, who 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.[5]
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured Bardney Abbey 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.[6] Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.[7]
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."[8]
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it.[9] Ann Williams attributes it to the hostility between the Mercians and the Northumbrians,[10] while D. P. Kirby suggests that it may have been revenge for her sister's alleged involvement in Peada's murder.[11] H. P. R. Finberg speculates that she and her kinsman Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.[12]
Osthryth was buried at Bardney Abbey.[1]
Osthryth was probably the mother of Æthelred's son, Ceolred, king of Mercia from∼St. Osthrith, Queen of Mercia
(c.AD 648-697)
Princess Osthrith was born to high office. A daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his wife, St. Eanflaeda, she became a Queen herself upon her marriage to King Aethelred of Mercia in AD 679. The two made a pious Royal couple and were great benefactors of the Church. Churches and monasteries were multiplied and endowed during their reign and Aethelred set his niece, St. Werburga of Chester, over all the nunneries in his dominions.
Osthrith, however, seems to have been unpopular among the Mercians. She had a great devotion to her uncle, St. Oswald of Northumbria, and desired to lay his bones in her husband's noble monastery at Bardney in Lincolnshire. The monks objected, because St. Oswald had warred against Mercia and reigned over it as a foreign king. When, one evening, a wagon arrived at Bardney, bearing the good king's body, they would not open their gates. So the cart was left, all night, outside the monastery. No sooner was it dark, than a wondrous light emanated from the bier and was seen for miles around by all the dwellers in the province. A pillar of glorious light stood over the saint's body, reaching up to heaven. In the morning, the monks, who had wished to send the relics back to Northumberland, were, of course, now eager to have the Royal saint buried in their church.
On 5th August AD 697, a rebellious faction in Mercia murdered poor Osthrith. She was buried at Bardney and, seven years later, Aethelred decided to resign his throne to Coenred, the son of his elder brother, Wulfhere, and St. Ermengilda, and became a monk in the same monastery. He died there, in AD 715, and was buried beside his wife. They left a son, Coelred, married St. Werburga of Mercia, who, in AD 709, succeeded his cousin, Coenred to the throne of Mercia.
Osthryth (died 697), queen of the Mercians, was the wife of King Æthelred and daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his second wife Eanflæd. She probably married Æthelred before 679 and was murdered by the nobles of Mercia.[1]
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.[2] After Peada's death, who was allegedly murdered with Alhflæd's connivance and possibly Osthryth's as well, she retreated to Fladbury in Worcestershire, to judge both from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and from its subsequent history:[3] sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester, to re-establish monastic life there;[4] however, this grant was later contested by Æthelheard, son of Oshere, who 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.[5]
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured Bardney Abbey 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.[6] Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.[7]
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."[8]
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it.[9] Ann Williams attributes it to the hostility between the Mercians and the Northumbrians,[10] while D. P. Kirby suggests that it may have been revenge for her sister's alleged involvement in Peada's murder.[11] H. P. R. Finberg speculates that she and her kinsman Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.[12]
Osthryth was buried at Bardney Abbey.[1]
Osthryth was probably the mother of Æthelred's son, Ceolred, king of Mercia from∼St. Osthrith, Queen of Mercia
(c.AD 648-697)
Princess Osthrith was born to high office. A daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his wife, St. Eanflaeda, she became a Queen herself upon her marriage to King Aethelred of Mercia in AD 679. The two made a pious Royal couple and were great benefactors of the Church. Churches and monasteries were multiplied and endowed during their reign and Aethelred set his niece, St. Werburga of Chester, over all the nunneries in his dominions.
Osthrith, however, seems to have been unpopular among the Mercians. She had a great devotion to her uncle, St. Oswald of Northumbria, and desired to lay his bones in her husband's noble monastery at Bardney in Lincolnshire. The monks objected, because St. Oswald had warred against Mercia and reigned over it as a foreign king. When, one evening, a wagon arrived at Bardney, bearing the good king's body, they would not open their gates. So the cart was left, all night, outside the monastery. No sooner was it dark, than a wondrous light emanated from the bier and was seen for miles around by all the dwellers in the province. A pillar of glorious light stood over the saint's body, reaching up to heaven. In the morning, the monks, who had wished to send the relics back to Northumberland, were, of course, now eager to have the Royal saint buried in their church.
On 5th August AD 697, a rebellious faction in Mercia murdered poor Osthrith. She was buried at Bardney and, seven years later, Aethelred decided to resign his throne to Coenred, the son of his elder brother, Wulfhere, and St. Ermengilda, and became a monk in the same monastery. He died there, in AD 715, and was buried beside his wife. They left a son, Coelred, married St. Werburga of Mercia, who, in AD 709, succeeded his cousin, Coenred to the throne of Mercia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osthryth
Osthryth (died 697), queen of the Mercians, was the wife of King Æthelred and daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his second wife Eanflæd. She probably married Æthelred before 679 and was murdered by the nobles of Mercia.[1]
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.[2] After Peada's death, who was allegedly murdered with Alhflæd's connivance and possibly Osthryth's as well, she retreated to Fladbury in Worcestershire, to judge both from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and from its subsequent history:[3] sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester, to re-establish monastic life there;[4] however, this grant was later contested by Æthelheard, son of Oshere, who 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.[5]
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured Bardney Abbey 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.[6] Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.[7]
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."[8]
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it.[9] Ann Williams attributes it to the hostility between the Mercians and the Northumbrians,[10] while D. P. Kirby suggests that it may have been revenge for her sister's alleged involvement in Peada's murder.[11] H. P. R. Finberg speculates that she and her kinsman Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.[12]
Osthryth was buried at Bardney Abbey.[1]
Osthryth was probably the mother of Æthelred's son, Ceolred, king of Mercia from∼St. Osthrith, Queen of Mercia
(c.AD 648-697)
Princess Osthrith was born to high office. A daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his wife, St. Eanflaeda, she became a Queen herself upon her marriage to King Aethelred of Mercia in AD 679. The two made a pious Royal couple and were great benefactors of the Church. Churches and monasteries were multiplied and endowed during their reign and Aethelred set his niece, St. Werburga of Chester, over all the nunneries in his dominions.
Osthrith, however, seems to have been unpopular among the Mercians. She had a great devotion to her uncle, St. Oswald of Northumbria, and desired to lay his bones in her husband's noble monastery at Bardney in Lincolnshire. The monks objected, because St. Oswald had warred against Mercia and reigned over it as a foreign king. When, one evening, a wagon arrived at Bardney, bearing the good king's body, they would not open their gates. So the cart was left, all night, outside the monastery. No sooner was it dark, than a wondrous light emanated from the bier and was seen for miles around by all the dwellers in the province. A pillar of glorious light stood over the saint's body, reaching up to heaven. In the morning, the monks, who had wished to send the relics back to Northumberland, were, of course, now eager to have the Royal saint buried in their church.
On 5th August AD 697, a rebellious faction in Mercia murdered poor Osthrith. She was buried at Bardney and, seven years later, Aethelred decided to resign his throne to Coenred, the son of his elder brother, Wulfhere, and St. Ermengilda, and became a monk in the same monastery. He died there, in AD 715, and was buried beside his wife. They left a son, Coelred, married St. Werburga of Mercia, who, in AD 709, succeeded his cousin, Coenred to the throne of Mercia.
Osthryth (died 697), queen of the Mercians, was the wife of King Æthelred and daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his second wife Eanflæd. She probably married Æthelred before 679 and was murdered by the nobles of Mercia.[1]
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.[2] After Peada's death, who was allegedly murdered with Alhflæd's connivance and possibly Osthryth's as well, she retreated to Fladbury in Worcestershire, to judge both from the place-name, which means "stronghold of Flæde", and from its subsequent history:[3] sometime in the 690s Æthelred granted Fladbury to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester, to re-establish monastic life there;[4] however, this grant was later contested by Æthelheard, son of Oshere, who 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.[5]
Æthelred and Osthryth loved and favoured Bardney Abbey 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.[6] Many years later she persuaded Oswald's widow Cyneburh to take the veil.[7]
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."[8]
The murder of Osthryth in 697 by Mercian nobles is unexplained in the sources that mention it.[9] Ann Williams attributes it to the hostility between the Mercians and the Northumbrians,[10] while D. P. Kirby suggests that it may have been revenge for her sister's alleged involvement in Peada's murder.[11] H. P. R. Finberg speculates that she and her kinsman Oshere were suspected of trying to detach the kingdom of the Hwicce from Mercian overlordship.[12]
Osthryth was buried at Bardney Abbey.[1]
Osthryth was probably the mother of Æthelred's son, Ceolred, king of Mercia from∼St. Osthrith, Queen of Mercia
(c.AD 648-697)
Princess Osthrith was born to high office. A daughter of King Oswiu of Northumbria and his wife, St. Eanflaeda, she became a Queen herself upon her marriage to King Aethelred of Mercia in AD 679. The two made a pious Royal couple and were great benefactors of the Church. Churches and monasteries were multiplied and endowed during their reign and Aethelred set his niece, St. Werburga of Chester, over all the nunneries in his dominions.
Osthrith, however, seems to have been unpopular among the Mercians. She had a great devotion to her uncle, St. Oswald of Northumbria, and desired to lay his bones in her husband's noble monastery at Bardney in Lincolnshire. The monks objected, because St. Oswald had warred against Mercia and reigned over it as a foreign king. When, one evening, a wagon arrived at Bardney, bearing the good king's body, they would not open their gates. So the cart was left, all night, outside the monastery. No sooner was it dark, than a wondrous light emanated from the bier and was seen for miles around by all the dwellers in the province. A pillar of glorious light stood over the saint's body, reaching up to heaven. In the morning, the monks, who had wished to send the relics back to Northumberland, were, of course, now eager to have the Royal saint buried in their church.
On 5th August AD 697, a rebellious faction in Mercia murdered poor Osthrith. She was buried at Bardney and, seven years later, Aethelred decided to resign his throne to Coenred, the son of his elder brother, Wulfhere, and St. Ermengilda, and became a monk in the same monastery. He died there, in AD 715, and was buried beside his wife. They left a son, Coelred, married St. Werburga of Mercia, who, in AD 709, succeeded his cousin, Coenred to the throne of Mercia.
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