Beadwulf

Last updated

Beadwulf
Bishop of Candida Casa
Church Roman Catholic
See Candida Casa
In office791 after 803
Predecessor Æthelberht
Successornone
Personal details
Bornunknown
unknown
Diedafter 803
unknown
Previous post(s)unknown

Beadwulf was the last Bishop of Candida Casa to be consecrated by the Northumbrian Archbishop of York. He appears in four years of the chronicles and nowhere else. Nothing else is known of him, and his sole historical significance is that he was a bishop of the short-lived Northumbrian See of Candida Casa at Whithorn.

Contents

Beadwulf (alternately spelled Baldwulf, Badulf, Badwulf, or Baldulf) enters the historical record at his consecration as the Bishop of Candida Casa by Archbishop Eanbald I on 17 July 791, after his predecessor at Candida Casa, Æthelberht, was made the Bishop of Hexham. On 26 May 795 he attended the consecration of King Eardwulf of Northumbria at York, and then on 14 August 796 he attended the consecration of Eanbald II at Sockburn as the new Archbishop of York. On 11 June 803 Beadwulf attended the consecration of Egbert at Bywell as the new Bishop of Lindisfarne. No further record exists, either of him or of the See of Candida Casa.

Historical context

The Kingdom of Northumbria c. 800. The borders are conjectural. Kingdom of Northumbria.png
The Kingdom of Northumbria c. 800. The borders are conjectural.

The latter part of the eighth century was a tumultuous era in Northumbrian history. During Beadwulf's tenure at Candida Casa, the nation was weakened by dynastic strife within its leadership, with kings regularly murdered, deposed, or exiled. Vikings were beginning their increasingly destructive raids on Northumberland, sacking Lindisfarne in 793 and Jarrow in 794. The bishoprics were also in decline and if there is any foundation for Alcuin's 796 letter to the clergy of York regarding simony, [1] ecclesiastical offices were available for purchase. The kingdom was in its final throes, and in 827 when the appearance of Egbert of Wessex and his army at Dore was sufficient to obtain Northumbrian submission, [2] the once-dominant Kingdom of Northumbria disappeared into history.

William of Malmesbury says that the bishopric at Candida Casa was depopulated and destroyed by the incursions of Picts and Scots. [3] There is no evidence to suggest any large-scale predations in Galloway at this time, but whether or not that was the case, it is certainly likely that the bishopric simply withered and died along with the other Northumbrian bishoprics.

Historical evidence

A mention of Beadwulf in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - Baldwulf.jpg
A mention of Beadwulf in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The various chronicles that mention Beadwulf contain occasional minor differences in the dating of events. These variations are noted below. No one date is more authoritative than another.

791 His consecration as Bishop of Candida Casa

The Saxon Chronicle says that Beadwulf was consecrated bishop of Candida Casa by Archbishop Eanbald I and Bishop Æthelberht of Hexham on 17 July 791. [4] Symeon of Durham, writing c. 1108, says that the consecration occurred in a place called "Hearrahaleh". [5] Henry of Huntingdon, writing c. 1155, says that the consecration was by Eanbald I. [6]

795 At the consecration of King Eardwulf

The Saxon Chronicle says that Eardwulf succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom on 14 May 795, and was consecrated on 26 May 795 at York by Archbishop Eanbald I and bishops Æthelberht of Hexham, Higbald of Lindisfarne, and Beadwulf. [7]

796 At the consecration of Archbishop Eanbald II

The remains of Sockburn Church (from an 1894 book). Sockburn.Church.1894.jpg
The remains of Sockburn Church (from an 1894 book).

The Saxon Chronicle says that Archbishop Eanbald I died on 10 August 796 and was succeeded by Eanbald II, who was consecrated on 14 August 796. There is no mention of who attended, or the place. [8] Symeon of Durham says that the consecration occurred at Sockburn, with bishops Æthelberht, Higbald, and Beadwulf attending. [9] The Melrose Chronicle agrees that the three bishops attended the consecration, but makes no mention of its location. [10]

803 At the consecration of Bishop Egbert of Lindisfarne

The Saxon Chronicle for 803 says that Bishop Higbald of Lindisfarne died on 24 June 803, and was succeeded by Egbert on 13 June 804. There is no mention of who attended, or the place. [11] Symeon of Durham says that Higbald died on 25 May 803, and that Egbert's consecration was on 11 June 803 at Bywell, with Archbishop Eanbald II and bishops Eanbert of Hexham and Beadwulf in attendance. [12] John of Worcester, writing in 1140, says that Higbald died in 802 and that his successor Egbert was consecrated by Archbishop Eanbald II on 2 June 802. [13]

Notes

  1. Haddan & Stubbs 1868 :500Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents, Letter of Alcuin to the Clergy of York, 796
  2. Ingram 1823 :88The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 827
  3. William of Malmesbury 1870 :257De Gestis Pontificum Anglorum, Liber III, §118 Candida Casa
  4. Ingram 1823 :79The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 791
  5. Symeon of Durham 1855 :455Symeon of Durham, Entry for AD 791
  6. Henry of Huntingdon 1853 :139Henry of Huntingdon, Entry of 789 792
  7. Ingram 1823 :81The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 795
  8. Ingram 1823 :82The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 796
  9. Symeon of Durham 1855 :455Symeon of Durham, Entry for AD 796
  10. Stevenson 1835 :12Chronica de Mailros, Entry for AD 796
  11. Ingram 1823 :82The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 803
  12. Symeon of Durham 1855 :652Symeon of Durham, Chapter XX, entry for AD 803
  13. John of Worcester 1854 :48Florence of Worcester, Entry for AD 802

Related Research Articles

The 790s decade ran from January 1, 790, to December 31, 799.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuthbert</span> 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop, monk, hermit and saint

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was an Anglo-Saxon saint of the early Northumbrian church in the Celtic tradition. He was a monk, bishop and hermit, associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Northumbria, today in north-eastern England and south-eastern Scotland. Both during his life and after his death he became a popular medieval saint of Northern England, with a cult centred on his tomb at Durham Cathedral. Cuthbert is regarded as the patron saint of Northumbria. His feast days are 20 March and 4 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hexham Abbey</span> Church in United Kingdom

Hexham Abbey is a Grade I listed place of Christian worship dedicated to St Andrew, in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, in the North East of England. Originally built in AD 674, the Abbey was built up during the 12th century into its current form, with additions around the turn of the 20th century. Since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537, the Abbey has been the parish church of Hexham. In 2014 the Abbey regained ownership of its former monastic buildings, which had been used as Hexham magistrates' court, and subsequently developed them into a permanent exhibition and visitor centre, telling the story of the Abbey's history.

Sockburn is a village and former civil parish to the south of Darlington in County Durham, England. It is situated at the apex of a meander of the River Tees, known locally as the Sockburn Peninsula. Today, all that remains of the village is an early nineteenth-century mansion, a ruined church and a farmhouse built in the late eighteenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eanred of Northumbria</span> King of Northumbria

Eanred was king of Northumbria in the early ninth century.

Tuda of Lindisfarne, also known as Saint Tuda, was appointed to succeed Colman as Bishop of Lindisfarne. He served for less than a year. Although raised in Ireland, he was a staunch supporter of Roman practices, being tonsured in the Roman manner and celebrating Easter according to the Roman Computus. However, he was consecrated as bishop in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eadberht of Northumbria</span> King of Northumbria

Eadberht was king of Northumbria from 737 or 738 to 758. He was the brother of Ecgbert, Archbishop of York. His reign is seen as a return to the imperial ambitions of seventh-century Northumbria and may represent a period of economic prosperity. He faced internal opposition from rival dynasties and at least two actual or potential rivals were killed during his reign. In 758 he abdicated in favour of his son Oswulf and became a monk at York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Æthelred I of Northumbria</span> King of Northumbria from 774 to 779 and from 790 until his murder in 796

Æthelred, was the king of Northumbria from 774 to 779 and again from 790 until he was murdered in 796. He was the son of Æthelwald Moll and Æthelthryth and possibly became king while still a child after Alhred was deposed.

Eardwulf was king of Northumbria from 796 to 806, when he was deposed and went into exile. He may have had a second reign from 808 until perhaps 811 or 830. Northumbria in the last years of the eighth century was the scene of dynastic strife between several noble families: in 790, king Æthelred I attempted to have Eardwulf assassinated. Eardwulf's survival may have been viewed as a sign of divine favour. A group of nobles conspired to assassinate Æthelred in April 796 and he was succeeded by Osbald: Osbald's reign lasted only twenty-seven days before he was deposed and Eardwulf became king on 14 May 796.

Ricsige was King of Northumbria from 873 to 876. He became king after Ecgberht I was overthrown and fled, with Wulfhere, Archbishop of York, to Mercia.

Sicga was a nobleman in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria.

Pehthelm was the first historical bishop of the episcopal see of Candida Casa at Whithorn. He was consecrated in 730 or 731 and served until his demise. His name is also spelled as Pecthelm, Pechthelm, and sometimes as Wehthelm.

Æthelberht was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop. His consecration as Bishop of Whithorn can be placed using the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle on 15 June in either 776 or 777, and took place at York. In 789, 790 or 791 he became Bishop of Hexham; he was succeeded at Whithorn by Beadwulf. He died on 16 October 797. He is known to have corresponded with Alcuin.

Heathored of Whithorn is sometimes given as the Northumbrian Bishop of Whithorn, following the demise of Bishop Beadwulf. He is possibly the last known Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Whithorn. His name occurs for the last time around 833; no other bishop at Whithorn is known until the accession around three centuries later of Gille Aldan. It is sometimes thought that he may be the same man as Bishop Heathored of Lindisfarne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frithubeorht</span> 8th-century Bishop of Hexham

Frithubeorht was an eighth century medieval Bishop of Hexham.

Events from the 9th century in England.

Events from the 8th century in England.

Events from the 7th century in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tidfrith of Hexham</span> 9th-century Bishop of Hexham

Tidfrith or Tidferth was an early 9th-century Northumbrian prelate. Said to have died on his way to Rome, he is the last known Anglo-Saxon bishop of Hexham. This bishopric, like the bishopric of Whithorn, probably ceased to exist, and was probably taken over by the authority of the bishopric of Lindisfarne. A runic inscription on a standing cross found in the cemetery of the church of Monkwearmouth is thought to bear his name.

Billfrith is an obscure Northumbrian saint credited with providing the jewel and metalwork encrusting the former treasure binding of the Lindisfarne Gospels. His name is thought to mean "peace of the two-edge sword".

References

Religious titles
Preceded by Bishop of Whithorn
789 × 791803 ×
Succeeded by
Unknown
Next known bishop is:
Heathored (uncertain)
Gilla Aldan (certain)