Onlafbald and Scula
Encyclopedia
Onlafbald and Scula were early 10th century Viking
chieftains, notable for receiving lands through successful campaigning in what is now northern England. Onlafbald is also said to have been killed by the spirit of the 7th century English saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
, after he profaned the long-dead saint. Scula's memory is preserved in a place-name in County Durham
, near the lands he received from Ragnall.
Following the battle at Corbridge
in about 918, the victorious Hiberno-Norse king Ragnall
occupied lands between the River Tyne
and the River Tees
. Some of these lands had formerly been in the possession of an English noble named Ælfed, son of Brihtulf, who had received them from Cutheard
, Bishop of Lindisfarne after he had fled Viking devastations in the west, to resettle on the eastern coast. Ragnall divided these new acquisitions between two of his followers—Scula and Onlafbald. Scula received a massive tract of land which comprised the estates from Castle Eden
to Billingham
; and Onlafbald received a similarly large tract, which included the rest from Eden
to the River Wear
. These lands lie on the coast, and it has been suggested that the two men were also granted the surrounding interior-lands as well.
Onlafbald is said to have uttered profane blasphemies against the English saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
(d.687); after which the spirit of the saint miraculously tortured the pagan chieftain until he acknowledged the power of the Christian god and died on the spot. In some accounts he is said to have invoked the power of his own gods—namely Thor
and Odin
.
The legacy of Scula is preserved in the place name of School Aycliffe
, which is derived from his name (Old Norse
: Skúli).
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
chieftains, notable for receiving lands through successful campaigning in what is now northern England. Onlafbald is also said to have been killed by the spirit of the 7th century English saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Saint Cuthbert was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop and hermit associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Northumbria, at that time including, in modern terms, northern England as well as south-eastern Scotland as far as the Firth of Forth...
, after he profaned the long-dead saint. Scula's memory is preserved in a place-name in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, near the lands he received from Ragnall.
Following the battle at Corbridge
Corbridge
Corbridge is a village in Northumberland, England, situated west of Newcastle and east of Hexham. Villages in the vicinity include Halton, Acomb, Aydon and Sandhoe.-Roman fort and town:...
in about 918, the victorious Hiberno-Norse king Ragnall
Ragnall ua Ímair
Ragnall was a Norse overlord or emperor of northern Britain, including Northumbria, the entire Irish Sea region including the Isle of Man, south to Waterford and briefly much of the Irish province of Munster, and then returning to Britain, briefly York as distinct from Northumbria at this time...
occupied lands between the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
and the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
. Some of these lands had formerly been in the possession of an English noble named Ælfed, son of Brihtulf, who had received them from Cutheard
Cutheard of Lindisfarne
Cutheard of Lindisfarne was Bishop of Lindisfarne from 900 to 915, although the see was administered from Chester-le-Street.Cutheard was responsible for purchasing the village of Bedlington in Northumberland, which was later incorporated into the properties belonging to the Bishopric of Durham...
, Bishop of Lindisfarne after he had fled Viking devastations in the west, to resettle on the eastern coast. Ragnall divided these new acquisitions between two of his followers—Scula and Onlafbald. Scula received a massive tract of land which comprised the estates from Castle Eden
Castle Eden
For the similarly named castle in Aberdeenshire, see Eden Castle.Castle Eden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the south of Peterlee, Wingate, the A19 and Castle Eden Dene...
to Billingham
Billingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
; and Onlafbald received a similarly large tract, which included the rest from Eden
Eden, Cumbria
Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle....
to the River Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
. These lands lie on the coast, and it has been suggested that the two men were also granted the surrounding interior-lands as well.
Onlafbald is said to have uttered profane blasphemies against the English saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Saint Cuthbert was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop and hermit associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Northumbria, at that time including, in modern terms, northern England as well as south-eastern Scotland as far as the Firth of Forth...
(d.687); after which the spirit of the saint miraculously tortured the pagan chieftain until he acknowledged the power of the Christian god and died on the spot. In some accounts he is said to have invoked the power of his own gods—namely Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
and Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
.
The legacy of Scula is preserved in the place name of School Aycliffe
School Aycliffe
School Aycliffe is a village located in County Durham, England. It is situated a short distance to the west of Newton Aycliffe and to the east of Heighington, County Durham. The name derives from a Viking called Scula who owned land in this part of South Durham.School Aycliffe is split into two by...
, which is derived from his name (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Skúli).
See also
- Historia de Sancto CuthbertoHistoria de Sancto CuthbertoThe Historia de Sancto Cuthberto is a historical compilation finished some time after 1031. It is an account of the history of the bishopric of St Cuthbert—based successively at Lindisfarne, Norham, Chester-le-Street and finally Durham—from the life of St Cuthbert himself onwards. The latest event...
, an historical account of the bishopric of St Cuthbert which mentions Onlafbald and Scula