Wulfstan I, Archbishop of York

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Wulfstan I
Archbishop of York
Enthroned 931
Ended December 26, 956
Predecessor Hrotheweard
Successor Oskytel
Consecration 931
Birth name Wulfstan
Died December 26, 956
Oundle, Northamptonshire
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Wulfstan (died December 26, 956) was Archbishop of York between 931 and 952. He is often known as Wulfstan I, to separate him from Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York.

Contents

[edit] Life

Wulfstan was consecrated in 931.[1]

In 939, King Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin invaded Northumbria and occupied York. King Eadred of England marched north to remove Olaf from York, but in 940 Wulfstan and Archbishop Wulfhelm of Canterbury arranged a treaty that ceded the area between Watling Street and the border of Northumbria to Olaf. But Olaf died in late 940, and his rule in York was inherited by his cousin, Olaf Sitricson who became King of Jórvík.[2] In 943 Wulfstan, who was the real ruler of Northumbria, deposed Olaf Sitricson, for relapsing into paganism, and placed Ragnall Gothfrithson, Olaf Guthfrithson's brother, on the throne of York.[3] However, Ragnall was killed in 945 by Olaf, who returned to the throne.[4] In early 947 Eadred became king, and Wulfstan swore an oath to recognize Eadred as king in Northumbria.[5] Later in 947 Wulfstan invited Erik Bloodaxe, king of Orkney to become King of Jórvík. Erik was expelled in 948 by Eadred who put Olaf back on the throne again.[4] However, in 952 Wulfstan once more plotted and managed to return Erik to the throne. Eadred then re-invaded and imprisoned Wulfstan.[6] The Anglo Saxon Chronicle version D says that Eadred arrested Wulfstan, but if this actually happened, the king and archbishop must have reconciled at some point before Eadred's death in 955, as Wulfstan was archbishop when Eadred died.[5]

He died at Oundle, Northamptonshire on December 26, 956.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 224
  2. ^ Stenton Anglo Saxon England p. 357
  3. ^ Hill The Age of Athelstan p. 170-171
  4. ^ a b Ashley Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens p. 464-466
  5. ^ a b Stenton Anglo Saxon England 3rd ed. p. 360-361
  6. ^ Ashley Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens p. 443

[edit] References

  • Ashely, Mike The Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens New York: Carroll & Graff 1998 ISBN 0-7967-0692-9
  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. 
  • Hill, Paul The Age of Athelstan: Britain's Forgotten History Stroud:Tempus 2004 ISBN 0-7524-2566-8
  • Stenton, F. M. Anglo-Saxon England Third Edition Oxford:Oxford University Press 1971 ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5

[edit] External links

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Hrotheweard		 Archbishop of York
928–952		 Succeeded by
Oskytel
Persondata
NAME Wulfstan I
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Archbishop of York
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH December 26, 956
PLACE OF DEATH Oundle, Northamptonshire
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