Editing Northumbria (section)

====Eric of York (r. 947–948, 952–954)====
{{main|Eric Bloodaxe}}
In the early twentieth century, historians identified Eric of York with the Norwegian king Eric Bloodaxe, although more recent scholarship has challenged this association.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} He held two short terms as King of Northumbria, from 947 to 948 and 952 to 954.{{efn|Although the Northumbrian king Eric was conflated with King Eric Bloodaxe of Norway in Icelandic sagas, [[Clare Downham]] and others have recently argued that the two were separate people. For a discussion of this shift in identification, see Downham, Clare 2004 "Eric Bloodaxe – Axed? The Mystery of the Last Scandinavian King of York", ''Medieval Scandinavia'', vol. 14, pp. 51–77}} Historical documentation on his reign is scarce, but it seems Eric pushed out the joint English-Viking rulers of Northumbria in 947,<ref>{{harvnb|Swanton|1996}} MS D 940</ref> who then regained the land in 948 or 949. Eric took back the throne in 952, only to be deposed again in 954.<ref>{{harvnb|Swanton|1996}} MS D & E 954</ref> Eric was the last Viking king of Northumbria and his authority only extended to the southern [[Scandinavian York|kingdom of York]]. In 954 he was murdered, allegedly with the connivance of [[Oswulf I of Bamburgh|Oswulf]], the Anglo-Saxon ruler of the northern Northumbrian territory of Bamburgh.{{sfn|Rollason|2003|pp=265-266}}