View source for Oswulf II of Bamburgh

{{about|the eleventh-century earl of Bamburgh|the tenth-century ruler of Bamburgh|Oswulf I of Bamburgh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Osulf''' or '''Oswulf''' (died 1067) was the son of [[Eadwulf IV of Bamburgh|Eadwulf IV]], [[Earl of Bamburgh]] (killed 1041), and grandson of [[Uhtred the Bold]], [[ruler of Bamburgh]] and [[Earl of Northumbria|ealdorman of Northumbria]] (killed 1016). Oswulf’s family ruled Bamburgh from 954 until 1041, though their independence may have been compromised after 1041 when [[Siward of Northumbria|Siward the Stout]] killed Eadwulf and gained hegemony over the north.

In 1065, [[Morcar of Northumbria|Morcar]] succeeded [[Tostig Godwinson|Tostig]] as ealdorman of  Northumbria and nominal overlord of Oswulf, ruling the portion north of the [[River Tyne]]. However, because of Morcar’s resistance to the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman invasion of England]] by [[William the Conqueror]] in 1066, he was deposed and imprisoned. William then appointed [[Copsi of Northumbria|Copsi]] (sometimes Copsig), Tostig’s former deputy, as Morcar's replacement.

In February 1067, Copsi came north and forced Oswulf to seek shelter in the hills. Oswulf began to gather an army. Because Copsi was seen as an invader and a tax-gatherer for William, he was deeply unpopular among the Northumbrians north and south of the Tyne, and Oswulf had no trouble in gathering recruits. On 12 March, he surprised Copsi and his men at a banquet at [[Newburn-upon-Tyne]]. Copsi fled to a nearby church but this was set on fire, forcing Copsi out. Oswulf then had Copsi's [[Decapitation|head cut off]].

Oswulf appears to have seized control of the earldom of Bamburgh, and was not threatened by any expeditions to remove him. However, in the autumn of 1067, Oswulf, who appears to have been carrying out his duties as [[earl]], intercepted an outlaw and was run through by the man’s spear.

He was succeeded as earl by his cousin, [[Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria|Gospatric]], who allegedly paid King William for the latter's recognition of his earldom.

==Sources==
* Aird, William M., "Osulf, earl of Bamburgh (d. 1067)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/20929 accessed 30 Dec 2008]
* [[William E. Kapelle|Kapelle, William E.]], ''The Norman Conquest of the North'', University of North Carolina Press, 1979.
* [[Frank Stenton|Stenton, Sir Frank M.]] ''Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition''. [[Oxford University Press]], 1971.

==External links==
* {{PASE|204778|Oswulf 37}}

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 last=[[Eadwulf IV of Bamburgh|Eadwulf IV]]|
 reason=Merged into the [[Earldom of Northumbria]] from 1041 to 1065<br /><small>Bamburgh ruled by [[Morcar of Northumbria|Morcar]] to 1065</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Rulers of Bamburgh|Earl of Bamburgh]] <br /><small>Opposed by:<br />[[Copsi of Northumbria|Copsi]]</small> |years=1065–1067}}
{{s-non|reason=Permanently merged into the Earldom of Northumbria<br /><small>Bamburgh ruled by [[Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria|Cospatric]] from 1067</small>}}
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[[Category:1067 deaths]]
[[Category:11th-century English nobility]]
[[Category:Anglo-Saxon warriors]]
[[Category:Eadwulfing]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Rulers of Bamburgh]]