Oswiu (Oswy)
The son of Ethelfrith, an Anglo-Saxon king who had united the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira, Oswiu became king of Bernicia in 641. After the death of his brother, Oswald, Oswiu warred, with the help of his overlord Penda of Mercia, with his cousin Oswin, who had taken Deira after Oswald's death. Oswiu is said to have murdered his cousin, who is considered a martyr for Christ's justice, in 651 and assumed control of both kingdoms. Four years later, Penda invaded Bernicia and was defeated at Winwaed, near Leeds. After Penda's death in battle, Oswiu united Northumbria and annexed part of Mercia. He became the overlord England below the Humber and gave part of Mercia to Peada, Penda's son. The year after Peada's murder, the Mercians revolted against Oswiu, who lost control of the southern part of his realm.
The Northumbrian church which had ties to Iona and Lindisfarne generally followed the practices of the Celtic church. Churches in southern England generally followed the practices of the Roman church. Because missionaries had come into Northumbria from both churches, church practices varied. Eanfled, Oswiu's queen, followed Roman customs, and king and queen did not celebrate Easter together. Oswiu convoked a synod at Whitby to unite the Northumbrians under a single practice. He presided over the synod and cast the decisive vote in favor of Roman usage.
After his death in 670, his son Ecgfrith succeeded him.
Karen Rae Keck
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