Saint Ceolwulf was
King of Northumbria
Northumbria, a kingdom of Angles, in what is now northern England and south-east Scotland, was initially divided into two kingdoms: Bernicia and Deira. The two were first united by king Æthelfrith around the year 604, and except for occasional ...
from 729 until 737, except for a short period in 731 or 732 when he was deposed and quickly restored to power. Ceolwulf abdicated and entered the monastery at
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important ...
. He was the "most glorious king" to whom
Bede
Bede ( ; ang, Bǣda , ; 672/326 May 735), also known as Saint Bede, The Venerable Bede, and Bede the Venerable ( la, Beda Venerabilis), was an English monk at the monastery of St Peter and its companion monastery of St Paul in the Kingdom o ...
dedicated his ''
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
The ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' ( la, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum), written by Bede in about AD 731, is a history of the Christian Churches in England, and of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict be ...
''.
Life
Ceolwulf was born around 695 in Northumbria.
[Odden, Per Einer. "The Holy Ceolwulf of Northumbria (~ 695-764)", The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oslo, May 26, 2004]
/ref> His ancestry is thus given by the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' is a collection of annals in Old English, chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the ''Chronicle'' was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alf ...
'': "Ceolwulf was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Leoldwald, Leoldwald of Egwald, Egwald of Aldhelm, Aldhelm of Ocga, Ocga of Ida, Ida of Eoppa."[Hind, George. "Ceolwulf." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 18 May 2013]
/ref> Ceolwulf's brother, Coenred, seized the Northumbrian throne in 716. Coenred ruled for two years when Osric, the last of the House of Aethelric, claimed the throne and ruled for ten years. In 729, shortly before his death, Osric nominated Ceolwulf as his successor.
He consulted the Venerable Bede for advice on important matters.[ While praising Ceolwulf's piety, Bede also expressed some reservations regarding Ceolwulf's ability to rule. Ceolwulf was a man with deep monastic interests and perhaps little suited to affairs of state. Bede dedicated his ''Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum'' (''History of the English Church'') to Ceolwulf in 731.][ The beginning of his reign was disturbed by factions and rebellion, and that same year he was forcibly seized by his enemies and compelled to receive the monastic tonsure.][Stanton, Richard. ''A Menology of England and Wales'', Burns & Oates, 1887, p. 20](_blank)
/ref> He was deposed for a short period but quickly restored. The details of the attempted coup are unclear. Bishop Acca of Hexham
Acca of Hexham ( 660 – 740/742) was an early medieval Northumbrian prelate, serving as bishop of Hexham from 709 until 732, and subsequently commemorated as a Christian saint.
Life
Born in Northumbria, Acca first served in the household of B ...
is said to have been deprived of his see, which suggests he may have supported Ceolwulf's opponents. Ceolwulf named his cousin Ecgbert to the see
See or SEE may refer to:
* Sight - seeing
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Music:
** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals
*** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See''
** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho
* Television
* ...
of York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
around 732 (other sources date the appointment to 734).
It has been suggested that Ceolwulf had spent time in Ireland, perhaps studying to enter into religion. As king, he had endowed the monastery at Lindisfarne with many gifts. He obtained a special dispensation for the monks which allowed the consumption of beer and wine, contrary to the established Celtic practice which limited beverages to water and milk. In 737, Ceolwulf abdicated in favor of his first cousin Eadberht, to retire to Lindisfarne. His death is recorded in the winter of 764–765. Bishop Ecgred of Lindisfarne
Ecgred of Lindisfarne (or Egfrid) was Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance ...
translated Ceolwulf's relics to the rebuilt Church of Saint Peter, Cuthbert, and Ceolwulf at Norham
Norham ( ) is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England, It is located south-west of Berwick on the south side of the River Tweed where it is the border with Scotland.
History
Its ancient name was Ubbanford. Ecgred of Lindisfarne ( ...
.Hodges, Charles Clement. "The Pre-Conquest Churches of Northumbria", ''The Reliquary'', April 1893, p. 84
/ref>
His feast day is 15 January.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
764 deaths
Northumbrian monarchs
Burials at Lindisfarne
8th-century English monarchs
8th-century Christian saints
English Christian monks
Northumbrian saints
Christian royal saints
Year of birth unknown
Idings
Monarchs who abdicated