Eardwulf Biography and Timeline

Grant at Perhamstede

Eardwulf grants one sulung of land at Perhamstede to Abbot Heaberht and the community at Reculver.

Role range: 0748-0762

Kingship in Kent

Eardwulf is attested as a king in Kent from about 748, ruling during a period of joint kingship in the kingdom.

Role range: 0748-0762

Son of Eadberht I

A surviving Kentish charter identifies King Eardwulf as a son of Eadberht I.

Role range: 0748-0762

Joint Rule with Aethelbert II

Charter evidence places Eardwulf among the kings ruling Kent during the later years of Aethelbert II.

Role range: 0748-0762

Pasture Rights for Rochester

Eardwulf grants pasture rights at Holanspic, Petteridge and Lindridge to the church of Saint Andrew at Rochester.

Role range: 0748-0762

Letter with Bishop Ealdwulf

After 754, Eardwulf and Bishop Ealdwulf of Rochester are recorded jointly communicating with the missionary archbishop Boniface.

Role range: 0748-0762

Royal Northumbrian Lineage

Later accounts describe Eardwulf as the son of a Northumbrian noble of royal blood, also named Eardwulf.

Attempted Execution at Ripon

A Northumbrian tradition states that King Aethelred ordered Eardwulf's execution near Ripon, but Eardwulf survived after being left for dead.

Exile after Ripon

After surviving the reported execution attempt, Eardwulf goes into exile during Aethelred's rule.

Accession

Eardwulf becomes King of Northumbria after Osbald's brief twenty-seven-day reign collapses.

Role range: 0796-0806

Recall after Osbald

Eardwulf is recalled from exile after Osbald loses the throne only weeks after Aethelred's assassination.

Role range: 0796-0806

Coronation at York

Archbishop Eanbald I and three bishops consecrate Eardwulf as King of Northumbria at York.

Role range: 0796-0806

Alcuin Accession Letter

Alcuin writes to the new king Eardwulf urging him to rule with justice, piety, and restraint.

Role range: 0796-0806

Alcuin Rebukes Eardwulf

Alcuin criticizes Eardwulf for putting away his wife and taking a concubine, warning that such conduct could cost him the throne.

Role range: 0796-0806

Battle of Billington Moor

Eardwulf defeats the rebel noble Wada at Billington Moor near Whalley and retains the Northumbrian throne.

Role range: 0798-0798 – 0796-0806

Wada Driven into Exile

After his defeat at Billington Moor, the rebel noble Wada is driven from Northumbria and later appears under Mercian protection.

Role range: 0798-0798 – 0796-0806

Death of Moll

Eardwulf orders the killing of the noble Moll, another potential opponent connected with Northumbrian dynastic politics.

Role range: 0796-0806

Conflict with Archbishop Eanbald II

Relations deteriorate between Eardwulf and Archbishop Eanbald II, who is accused of supporting opponents of the king.

Role range: 0796-0806

Death of Ealhmund

Ealhmund, a son of former king Alhred and a potential rival, is killed by Eardwulf's men.

Role range: 0796-0806

Campaign against Mercia

Eardwulf leads an army against King Coenwulf of Mercia after accusing him of sheltering Northumbrian political enemies.

Role range: 0801-0801 – 0796-0806

Peace with Coenwulf

Bishops and nobles mediate a settlement between Eardwulf and Coenwulf of Mercia before their confrontation develops into a major battle.

Role range: 0801-0801 – 0796-0806

Deposition

Eardwulf is expelled from Northumbria in a political overthrow and loses the throne.

Role range: 0796-0806

Appeal to Charlemagne

During exile, Eardwulf reaches Charlemagne's court and seeks Frankish support for his restoration to Northumbria.

Audience with Pope Leo III

Eardwulf travels to Rome and seeks the support of Pope Leo III for his return to the Northumbrian throne.

Eanbald Summoned to Rome

Pope Leo III summons Archbishop Eanbald II to Rome to answer questions arising from the political dispute surrounding Eardwulf's expulsion.

Papal Correspondence about Restoration

Pope Leo III writes to Charlemagne about Eardwulf's case as the pope and emperor coordinate support for the exiled Northumbrian king.

Restoration to Northumbria

Frankish records state that Eardwulf is returned to his kingdom with support from Charlemagne and Pope Leo III.

Father of Eanred

Eardwulf is recorded as the father of Eanred, who later succeeds to the Northumbrian kingship in the surviving royal tradition.