Bamburgh Castle, located in Northumberland, England, has a rich history dating back to the Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie, which was potentially the capital of the kingdom of Bernicia. Over the centuries, the castle has been controlled by various rulers, including the Eadwulfing line or ‘House of Bamburgh’, who ruled Bamburgh and the surrounding region.
The Eadwulfing Line: Rulers of Bamburgh
The Eadwulfing line, which began with Eadwulf I of Bamburgh, ruled Bamburgh and the surrounding region, which was sometimes referred to as the Earldom of Bamburgh or the Northern English/North English kingdom. This line of succession included the following rulers:
| Ruler | Reign |
|---|---|
| Eadwulf I of Bamburgh | c. 590 – c. 616 |
| Æthelfrith of Northumbria | c. 616 – 616 |
| Edwin of Northumbria | 616 – 633 |
| Oswald of Northumbria | 634 – 642 |
| Oswiu of Northumbria | 642 – 670 |
| Ecgfrith of Northumbria | 670 – 685 |
| Aldfrith of Northumbria | 685 – 704 |
| Eadwulf II of Bamburgh | c. 704 – c. 715 |
| Osred I of Northumbria | 704 – 716 |
| Coenred of Northumbria | 716 – 718 |
| Osric of Northumbria | 718 – 729 |
| Ceolwulf of Northumbria | 729 – 737 |
Post-Eadwulfing Rulers of Bamburgh
After the Eadwulfing line, Bamburgh Castle was controlled by various other rulers, including:
- Gospatric, who was possibly the son of Maldred or Máel Doraid, son of Crínán, possibly Crínán of Dunkeld. Gospatric’s tenure at Bamburgh is uncertain, as he died at Norham sometime in the 1070s.
- Waltheof of Northampton, son of Siward, ealdorman in southern Northumbria, may have governed part of the jurisdiction or possessed a nominal claim, but his tenure at Bamburgh is also uncertain.
- Dolfin of Carlisle, son of Gospatric, had an uncertain tenure at Bamburgh but was expelled from the region upon the Norman arrival in 1092.
- Robert de Mowbray, a Norman earl in Northumbria, possessed Bamburgh by 1093 if not earlier.
The Norman Reconstruction of Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle was eventually rebuilt by the Normans, starting with King William I in 1070, and the core of the current castle dates back to this period. The castle has been the site of significant historical events, including becoming the first English castle to fall to cannon fire during the Wars of the Roses in 1464. This event marked the end of Bamburgh’s strategic military importance, and the castle was granted to the Forster family by King James VI of Scotland after the Union of the Crowns in 1603.
Exploring Bamburgh Castle’s History
Today, Bamburgh Castle is owned and managed by the Armstrong Family and is open to the public. Visitors can explore the castle’s rich history, including its time as the seat of the Anglo Saxon Kings of Northumbria, through guided tours, events, and exhibits. The castle’s impressive architecture, stunning coastal location, and fascinating past make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history of Northumbria and the Anglo-Saxon era.
References:
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rulers_of_Bamburgh
– https://www.discovermiddleages.co.uk/medieval-castles/bamburgh-castle
– https://www.bamburghcastle.com/events/kings-that-shaped-bamburgh/
– https://www.bamburghcastle.com/castle/
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamburgh_Castle