Eadwulf Rus

Eadwulf Rus
Eadwulf Rus
Born	unknown
Died	1080s
Cause of death	murdered
Resting place	Uhtred the Bold via his son Gospatric; either a son of Gospatric or a son of Gospatric's son Uhtred

Eadulf or Eadwulf Rus (

Tostig, Earl of Northumbria.^[1] This murder by Tostig led to a great northern revolt against Edward the Confessor, a revolt that turned both King Edward and Harold Godwinson against Tostig and led to the appointment of the Mercian, Morcar, as Earl of northern England.^[2]

Eadwulf is primarily remembered for his involvement in the death of

Ealdred, Earl of Bamburgh.^[4]

The

Worcester Chronicle and the Historia Regum allege that the murder of Ligulf was planned by Walcher's chaplain Leobwin after Ligulf had argued with him during one of the earl's councils.^[5] It was Walcher's kinsman Gilbert, however, who is alleged to have entered Ligulf's hall, and attacked and killed him.^[6] Kapelle thought that, perhaps due to his failure to protect Northumberland against the Scots in 1079, Walcher's relations with Ligulf broke down, leading to the loss of Ligulf's support and then to hostility.^[7]

On 14 May 1080 a party of Northumbrian natives attacked that bishop-earl and his household at

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, having arrived to hold discussions.^[8] The discussions were fruitless and Walcher, who was protected with 100 knights, retired to the church there.^[8] The Northumbrians set the church on fire, after Leobwin refused to surrender himself.^[9] Walcher was forced out and stabbed with swords.^[10] Leobwin was burned to death.^[9]

De primo Saxonum adventu says that the leader was Eadwulf, son of Gospatric; the Historia Regum also names, Eadwulf cognomento Rus as the killer, but claims he was a grandson of Gospatric through another Uhtred.^[11] The Libellus de exordio says that killer was a man named Waltheof, though this Waltheof may have been Eadwulf's brother.^[12]

According to the Historia Regum Eadwulf was killed soon after the death of Walcher, slain by a woman.^[11] His body was buried in the church at Jedburgh (now Scottish Borders), until Prior Turgot of Durham Cathedral had it removed a few years later.^[11] Eadwulf may have had a brother named Dolfin^[13] in addition to a brother named Waltheof.^[14]

Notes

^ Fletcher, Bloodfeud, p. 157.
^ Fletcher, Bloodfeud, pp. 157–62; Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, p. 95.
^ See Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, pp. 139, 270—1, n. 73.
^ Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 150.
^ Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, pp. 270–1, n. 73; see also Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 150.
^ Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, p. 139; Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 150.
^ Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, p. 139.
^ ^a ^b Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, p. 140.
^ ^a ^b Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 152.
^ Kapelle, Norman Conquest of the North, p. 140; Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 152.
^ ^a ^b ^c Stevenson, Symeon of Durham's History, p. 143.
^ Rollason (ed.), Libellus de Exordio, pp. 214-—5, n. 99.
^ Sharpe, Norman Rule, n. 80, p. 35.
^ According to De Primo Saxonum Adventu Waltheof was the name of a brother of his; see Rollason (ed.), Libellus de Exordio, p. 214, n. 99.