Osred II of Northumbria

Osred II of Northumbria, born to Alhred and Osgifu, the daughter of Eadberht, ascended to the throne in the year seven hundred eighty-nine. His reign, though brief, was marked by significant political maneuvering as he united two rival factions within Northumbria.

His rise to power came after the murder of Ælfwald, the son of his maternal uncle Oswulf, who had been slain by the ealdorman Sicga. Osred's kingship lasted only a year, as he was soon deposed in favor of Æthelred, the previously ousted son of Æthelwald Moll.

Following his deposition, Osred faced a grim fate; he was forcibly tonsured and exiled, reportedly to the Isle of Man. However, in the year seven hundred ninety-two, he returned from exile, only to be betrayed by his own soldiers.

Tragically, Osred was murdered on the orders of King Æthelred, who had previously orchestrated the deaths of Ælf and Ælfwine, sons of Ælfwald. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recounts that Osred was apprehended and slain on the eighteenth day before the calends of October, with his remains interred at Tynemouth.