Wulfstan (died 956)
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Wulfstan (died December 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.
Early life
Wulfstan was consecrated in 931.<ref name=Handbook224>Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 224</ref> He was presumably appointed with the consent of King Æthelstan, and attested all of the king's charters between 931 and 935. Between 936 and 41, however, he was absent from the king's court, for unknown reasons.<ref name=BSE/>
Career
Wulfstan's career is characterised by frequent swapping of allegiances, both among Viking leaders from Dublin and the Wessex kings. Perhaps Wulfstan played the part of 'king-maker' in Northumbrian politics in the mid-10th century, or perhaps he was guided by self-preservation and the interests of the Church in Northumbria.<ref name=Down>Downham Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland</ref>
In 939, King Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin invaded Northumbria and occupied York. King Edmund 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.<ref name=ASE357>Stenton Anglo Saxon England p. 357</ref> In 944, Olaf Sitricson and his co-ruler Ragnald Guthfrithson were driven out from York; the chronicler Æthelweard wrote that it was "Bishop Wulfstan and the eoldormen of the Mercians" who were responsible for their expulsion.<ref name=BSE/> In 947 Wulfstan invited Eric Bloodaxe, the King of Orkney to become King of Jórvík. Eadred of Wessex brutally ravaged Northumbria in 948, forcing Eric to leave Northumbria. Olaf Cuaran then resumed his second reign at York. By 951, Wulfstan appears to have supported Eric's claim to the kingdom of York over Olaf as he ceased to witness charters at the English court.<ref name=Down/> In 952, Olaf was driven out by the Northumbrians in favor of Eric.
Later life
Eadred then re-invaded and imprisoned Wulfstan.<ref name=BSE>Keynes "Wulfstan I" Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England</ref> The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle version D says that "because accusations had often been made to the king against him", Eadred arrested Wulfstan and took him to Iudanbyrig (the location of which is not known).<ref name=BSE/> He attested some charters in 953, so he was not imprisoned then.<ref name=BSE/> Although he was restored to episcopal office, he had to exercise his authority from distant Dorchester, Template:Convert from York. He appears not to have attended court for most of 956 and was possibly in failing health by then.<ref name=BSE/> According to Lesley Abrams: "After the sidelining to the treacherous Wulfstan I, Oscytel, a kinsman of Oda, became Archbishop of York in 956."<ref>Abrams "Edgar and the Men of the Danelaw" Edgar King of the English p. 189</ref> He died at Oundle, Northamptonshire, on 16<ref name=BSE/> or 26 December 956.<ref name=Handbook224/> He was buried at Oundle.<ref name=BSE/>
Assessment
The historian Clare Downham observes that Wulfstan was almost certainly made archbishop in 931 with Æthelstan's support: Template:Blockquote
Citations
References
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Further reading
External links
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