Osulf II of Northumbria

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Osulf II (sometimes Oswulf) was the son of Eadulf III, earl of Northumbria, and thus heir to the ancient family of theirs, which had, until 1041, been ealdormen or earls of Bernicia (between the Tweed and the Tees), with their capital at Bamburgh. Briefly (until 1016) they had hegemony over all of Northumbria, even south of the Tees. Osulf never saw appointment to the great earldom and the famous Earl Siward ruled from Eadulf's death over all the north until his own death. In 1067, however, Osulf saw an opportunity and murdered William the Conqueror's new earl, Copsi, at Newburn-upon-Tyne in the spring. By Autumn, however, Osulf, who had been ruling as earl, was also assassinated, by a brigand. There was a brief interregnum before his cousin, Cospatrick, bought the earldom from the king.