Oswulf (fl. c. 946 to after 954) was ruler of Bamburgh and subsequently, according to later tradition, commander of all Northumbria under the lordship of King Eadred of England. He is sometimes called "earl" or "high reeve", though the precise title of the rulers of Bamburgh is unclear. By the twelfth century Oswulf was held responsible for the death of Northumbria's last Norse king, Eric of York, subsequently administering the Kingdom of York on behalf of Eadred. Identity Only elements of Oswulf's origin are accounted for. A genealogy in the text De Northumbria post Britannos, recording the ancestry of Waltheof Earl of Northampton (and, briefly, Northumbria), suggests that Oswulf was the son of Eadwulf I of Bamburgh, the ′King of the Northern English′ who died in 913. There has also been modern speculation that he was son of Ealdred I of Bamburgh, and thus grandson of Eadwulf I. Richard Fletcher and David Rollason thought he might be the Oswulf who had witnessed charters further south in the 930s, which if true would extend Oswulf's back to 934. He is the first man specifically designated "high-reeve" of Bamburgh. High-reeve is Old English , and Alfred Smyth thought the style was influenced by the Scottish word mormaer, which possibly has the same meaning ("High Steward"). Judging by the North People's Law, a high-reeve was not the same as an ealdorman (), having only half an ealdorman's wergild. Oswulf is listed as an attester to four charters of King Eadred, one dated 946, two in 949 and one of 950. These are all 'alliterative charters', which have much fuller witness lists than 'mainstream charters', so he may have been present on other occasions. Erik of York and domination of all Northumbria Though Eadwulf and Ealdred had ruled in the north, in the years running up to 954, southern Northumbria was controlled by the Scandinavians, with power switching between Óláfr Sigtryggsson and Eric of York from the early 940s. According to Roger of Wendover's Flores historiarum (early 13th century), Oswulf was responsible for a conspiracy with a certain Maccus that led to the betrayal and death of Eric, ruler of York, "in a certain lonely place called Stainmore". By the twelfth century, there is a tradition that Oswulf was able to take command of all Northumbria, notwithstanding the overlordship of King Eadred, West Saxon ruler of England. Although this part of the Flores historiarum