Oswald of East Anglia: Difference between revisions
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|affiliates = [[East Anglia|Kingdom of East Anglia]] | |affiliates = [[East Anglia|Kingdom of East Anglia]] | ||
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'''Oswald''' was an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] nobleman who reigned as a client-king ruling over [[East Anglia]] during its occupation by the [[Great Heathen Army]]. | '''Oswald''' was an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] nobleman<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Oswald of East Anglia}}</ref> who reigned as a client-king ruling over [[East Anglia]] during its occupation by the [[Great Heathen Army]]. Originally a minor ''[[thegn]]'' who served in the court of King [[Edmund the Martyr|Edmund]], Oswald was chosen as the next candidate to the throne of East Anglia by the [[Viking]] [[Finnr]], with his marriage to [[Valdis]] meant to be a unity between the Anglo-Saxons and the [[Norse people|Norse]]. | ||
While initially struggling to prove his worth, Oswald displayed his bravery and willingness to risk his life in the feud against [[Rued]]. With aid from [[Eivor Varinsdottir]] of the [[Raven Clan]], Oswald won the support of his people and spouse, enabling him to be accepted as the rightful king of East Anglia with Valdis as his queen. | |||
While initially struggling to prove his worth, Oswald displayed his bravery and willingness to risk his life in the feud against [[Rued]]. With aid | |||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Early years=== | ===Early years=== | ||
Hailing from the village of [[Elmenham]], Oswald served in | Hailing from the village of [[Elmenham]], Oswald served in King Edmund's court as a ''thegn'' and was his counsel prior to the [[Viking expansion|Viking invasions]] into [[England]].<ref name="Kingmaker">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Kingmaker]]</ref> Following the deaths of King Edmund at the hands of the [[Sons of Ragnar]], and then [[Æthelred II of East Anglia|Æthelred]] by the Viking chieftain [[Rued]]'s [[Rued's clan|clan]], East Anglia was left without a stable kingship for the next few years, during which an increasing number of Norse came to make East Anglia their home. By 873, Oswald was one of the last remaining ''thegns'' that held any sway.<ref name="ACV">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla''</ref> | ||
That year, the Viking ''[[jarl]]'' [[Halfdan Ragnarsson]] appointed Finnr as the steward of East Anglia, and giving him the task of crowning a new king with a marriage to a Norse to signify the unity between the two races. Oswald was chosen to be the next king and was set to wed a Viking by the name of Valdis. However, he was considered soft and weak, and lacked the charisma and strength to lead, which led many Norse, including Valdis' brothers [[Broder]] and [[Brothir]] to distrust him. Despite this, Oswald made attempts to keep the peace within the community, while struggling to defend against raids made by Rued's clan.<ref name="Kingmaker" /> | That year, the Viking ''[[jarl]]'' [[Halfdan Ragnarsson]] appointed Finnr as the steward of East Anglia, and giving him the task of crowning a new king with a marriage to a Norse to signify the unity between the two races. Oswald was chosen to be the next king and was set to wed a Viking by the name of Valdis. However, he was considered soft and weak, and lacked the charisma and strength to lead, which led many Norse, including Valdis' brothers [[Broder]] and [[Brothir]] to distrust him. Despite this, Oswald made attempts to keep the peace within the community, while struggling to defend against raids made by Rued's clan.<ref name="Kingmaker" /> | ||
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===Fued with Rued=== | ===Fued with Rued=== | ||
[[File:ACV Kingmaker 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Oswald's first meeting with Eivor]] | [[File:ACV Kingmaker 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Oswald's first meeting with Eivor]] | ||
On one occasion, Oswald attempted to mediate an argument between a Norse and a Saxon, who both suffered attacks conducted by Rued's clan. While the matter did not resolved as he had hoped, Oswald met the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir of the | On one occasion, Oswald attempted to mediate an argument between a Norse and a Saxon, who both suffered attacks conducted by Rued's clan. While the matter did not resolved as he had hoped, Oswald met the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan,<ref name="Kingmaker" /> whose [[Ravensthorpe|settlement]] in [[Ledecestrescire]] also came under attack by Rued's clan. Oswald offered Eivor to travel with him back to his home in Elmenham as he sought to discuss his upcoming marriage with Valdis. Along the way, the two encountered a [[Beteleah Farm|small farm]] raided by Rued's Clan. Oswald was asked to stay put while Eivor headed forward to investigate and eliminate the raiders. After she returned, Oswald invited Eivor to join him in Elmenham for dinner, which she accepted.<ref name="Uninvited Guests">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Uninvited Guests]]</ref> | ||
However, before those plans could go through, Rued captured and imprisoned him in [[Burgh Castle]].<ref name="AFuryFromTheSea">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[A Fury from the Sea]]</ref> He was freed by Eivor, who had mustered a joint force of Anglo-Saxons and Danes<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Raising Iron]]</ref> to [[Assault on Burgh Castle|assault]] the [[fort]] where he was being held.<ref name="AFuryFromTheSea" /> Rescued from Rued's hands, Oswald returned to [[Elmenham]] for his coronation and to wed Valdis.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Wedding Horns]]</ref> When Eivor returned to Elmenham some time later, Oswald revealed that Valdis was with child and his heir was expected to be born the next summer.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Floating conversations]]: "Encounters across England and Norway: Oswald"</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
Oswald is a historical character who is voiced by the actor [[Kyle Gatehouse]]. No textual information about him survives, with what little evidence of his existence being limited to 9th century [[coin]]s minted with his name on them. Similarly, no record exists on the length of his reign nor whether he had heirs who survived to reach adulthood; he was succeeded in 879 by [[Guthrum|Æthelstan]] after King [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]] appointed him client-king of the region per the terms of their {{Wiki|Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum|peacy treaty}}.<ref name="Wiki"/> | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
Revision as of 03:40, 3 July 2025
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Oswald was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman[1] who reigned as a client-king ruling over East Anglia during its occupation by the Great Heathen Army. Originally a minor thegn who served in the court of King Edmund, Oswald was chosen as the next candidate to the throne of East Anglia by the Viking Finnr, with his marriage to Valdis meant to be a unity between the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.
While initially struggling to prove his worth, Oswald displayed his bravery and willingness to risk his life in the feud against Rued. With aid from Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan, Oswald won the support of his people and spouse, enabling him to be accepted as the rightful king of East Anglia with Valdis as his queen.
Biography
Early years
Hailing from the village of Elmenham, Oswald served in King Edmund's court as a thegn and was his counsel prior to the Viking invasions into England.[2] Following the deaths of King Edmund at the hands of the Sons of Ragnar, and then Æthelred by the Viking chieftain Rued's clan, East Anglia was left without a stable kingship for the next few years, during which an increasing number of Norse came to make East Anglia their home. By 873, Oswald was one of the last remaining thegns that held any sway.[3]
That year, the Viking jarl Halfdan Ragnarsson appointed Finnr as the steward of East Anglia, and giving him the task of crowning a new king with a marriage to a Norse to signify the unity between the two races. Oswald was chosen to be the next king and was set to wed a Viking by the name of Valdis. However, he was considered soft and weak, and lacked the charisma and strength to lead, which led many Norse, including Valdis' brothers Broder and Brothir to distrust him. Despite this, Oswald made attempts to keep the peace within the community, while struggling to defend against raids made by Rued's clan.[2]
Fued with Rued
On one occasion, Oswald attempted to mediate an argument between a Norse and a Saxon, who both suffered attacks conducted by Rued's clan. While the matter did not resolved as he had hoped, Oswald met the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan,[2] whose settlement in Ledecestrescire also came under attack by Rued's clan. Oswald offered Eivor to travel with him back to his home in Elmenham as he sought to discuss his upcoming marriage with Valdis. Along the way, the two encountered a small farm raided by Rued's Clan. Oswald was asked to stay put while Eivor headed forward to investigate and eliminate the raiders. After she returned, Oswald invited Eivor to join him in Elmenham for dinner, which she accepted.[4]
However, before those plans could go through, Rued captured and imprisoned him in Burgh Castle.[5] He was freed by Eivor, who had mustered a joint force of Anglo-Saxons and Danes[6] to assault the fort where he was being held.[5] Rescued from Rued's hands, Oswald returned to Elmenham for his coronation and to wed Valdis.[7] When Eivor returned to Elmenham some time later, Oswald revealed that Valdis was with child and his heir was expected to be born the next summer.[8]
Behind the scenes
Oswald is a historical character who is voiced by the actor Kyle Gatehouse. No textual information about him survives, with what little evidence of his existence being limited to 9th century coins minted with his name on them. Similarly, no record exists on the length of his reign nor whether he had heirs who survived to reach adulthood; he was succeeded in 879 by Æthelstan after King Alfred appointed him client-king of the region per the terms of their peacy treaty.[1]
Gallery
-
Oswald having a feast with Eivor, Finnr, Brothir and Broder
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Oswald of East Anglia on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Kingmaker
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Uninvited Guests
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Fury from the Sea
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Raising Iron
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wedding Horns
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Floating conversations: "Encounters across England and Norway: Oswald"