Osbeorn, Bulax

The Medieval Lands project describes:

1. BJORN Bearsson . The Vita et Passio Waldevi Comitis records “Ursus” as father of “Spratlingus” who was father of “Ulsius”, father of “Beorn cognomento Beresune…filius ursi…Dacus natione”[373].

m ---. The name of Bjorn's wife is not known.

Bjorn & his wife had [two] children:

a) SIWARD (-York 26 Mar 1055, bur Galmanho Monastery [=York St Mary's][374]). The Vita et Passio Waldevi Comitis names “Siuuardus” as son of “Beorn cognomento Beresune…filius ursi…Dacus natione”[375]. A Dane, he may have come to England with the invasion of Knud of Denmark in 1015. He was recognised as Earl of Northumbria after the murder of his wife's uncle in 1041[376]. The Annales Dunelmenses record that "comes Siward" invaded Scotland with a large army in 1046 and briefly expelled "rege Macbeod", the king recovering his realm when Siward withdrew[377]. He actively supported Edward "the Confessor" King of England against Earl Godwin and his sons in 1051. The Annales Dunelmenses record that "Siwardus" put "Macbeth" to flight in 1054 and installed "Malcolmum rege" in the following year[378].

m ÆLFLED, daughter of EALDRED Earl of Northumbria & his [first/second] wife ---. Simeon of Durham names "Elfleda daughter of Earl Aldred" as wife of Siward and mother of Waltheof[379]. Siward & his wife had two children:

i) OSBEORN (-killed in battle 27 Jul 1054). The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. He was killed fighting King Macbeth of Scotland with his father.

ii) WALTHEOF (-executed St Giles's Hill, Winchester 31 May 1076, bur Crowland Abbey383). Florence of Worcester records that "Waltheofum Siwardi ducis filius" went with King William to Normandy 21 Feb [1067][380]. Simeon of Durham records that "Waltheu the son of earl Siward…by Elfleda daughter of Earl Aldred" was installed as Earl of Northumberland after the earldom was confiscated from Gospatrick [in 1072][381]. His parentage is recorded by Roger of Hoveden[382]. Matthew of Paris specifies that he was the son of Siward, of Danish origin[383]. Earl of Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire [1065].

From Wikipedia:

According to the most reliable sources, he died at the Battle of the Seven Sleepers, fought somewhere in Scotland between Siward and Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, King of the Scots, in 1054. Under this year, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, recension D, related that:

"At this time earl Siward went with a great army into Scotland, with both fleet and a land-force; and fought against the Scots, and put to flight the king Mac Bethad, and slew all that were best in the land, and brought thence much war-spoil, such as no man obtained before; And there were slain his son Osbeorn, and his sister's son Siward, and some of his housecarls, and also of the king's, on the day of the Seven Sleepers (July 27)." [6]

This battle was fought somewhere in Scotland north of the Firth of Forth, and is known variously as the "Battle of the Seven Sleepers" or the "Battle of Dunsinane".[7] The location Dunsinane is not accepted as historical by modern historians, resting as it does on later medieval accounts. The earliest mention of Dunsinane as the location of the battle being the early 15th-century account by Andrew of Wyntoun.[8]

In recension C of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the names of the slain are omitted, an omission repeated by the Chronicle of John of Worcester.[9]

Henry of Huntingdon related that Osbeorn had been sent to Scotland ahead of Siward:

"[Siward] sent his son to acquire Scotland. And when they reported to his father that he had been slain in battle, [Siward] said, 'Did he receive the mortal wound in front of his body, or behind?' The messengers said. 'In front'. And he replied: 'I rejoice wholly, for I would deem myself or my son worthy of no meaner death'. Siward therefore marched into Scotland and conquered the king battle ... "[10]

Another legendary account, in the Vita et Passio Waldevi, a hagiography of Osbeorn's brother Waltheof, claimed that Osbeorn, called "Osbert Bulax", was killed by Northumbrians while his father was absent in Scotland.[11] The accounts in Henry of Huntingdon and the Vita et Passio Waldevi are thought to be derived from a saga devoted to the life of Earl Siward.[12]

Geoffrey Gaimar's account related activity in 1053, an agreement made between Siward and Mac Bethad, but a death of Osbeorn is not mentioned.[13]

Osbeorn's death left Siward's legacy in danger. When he died the following year, his only surviving son Waltheof (Osbeorn's brother) was underage and thus did not succeed immediately to the whole territory ruled by Siward, Northumbria going instead to Tostig Godwinson.[14]

Osbeorn Bulax was fictionalised as Young Siward in the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

The Armstrong Clan claims Osbeorn as the father of the first named Armstrong, Siward Barn the White. See this reference.