Editing Oswald of Northumbria (section)

==Christianity==
Although Edwin had previously converted to [[Catholic Church|Christianity]] in 627, it was Oswald who did the most to spread the religion in Northumbria. Shortly after becoming king he asked the Irish of Dál Riata to send a bishop to facilitate the conversion of his people. The Irish at first sent an "austere" [[bishop]], who was unsuccessful in his mission, and subsequently sent [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], who proposed a gentler approach. Oswald gave the island of [[Lindisfarne]] to Aidan as his [[Episcopal See|episcopal see]]. Aidan achieved great success in spreading the Christian faith. Bede mentions that Oswald acted as Aidan's interpreter when the latter was preaching, since Aidan did not know English well and Oswald had learned Irish during his exile.<ref>[[wikisource:Ecclesiastical History of the English People/Book 3|Bede, Book III, chapters 3 and 5.]]</ref>

Although Oswald could be interpreted as a martyr for his death in battle, Bede puts a clear emphasis on Oswald being saintly as a king. Bede does not focus on his martyrdom as being primary to his sainthood: indeed it has been noted that Bede never uses the word 'martyr' in reference to Oswald. Bede's portrayal of Oswald stands out as unusual as a king regarded as saintly for his life while ruling, in contrast to a king who gives up the kingship in favour of religious life or who is venerated because of the manner of his death.<ref>Stancliffe, "Oswald", pp. 41&ndash;42.</ref> Bede recounts Oswald's generosity to the poor and to strangers and tells a story highlighting this characteristic: on one occasion, at Easter, Oswald was sitting at dinner with Aidan and had "a silver dish full of dainties before him", when a servant, whom Oswald "had appointed to relieve the poor", came in and told Oswald that a crowd of the poor were in the streets begging [[alms]] from the king. According to Bede Oswald immediately had his food given to the poor and even had the dish broken up and distributed. Aidan was greatly impressed and seized Oswald's right hand, stating: "May this hand never perish." Accordingly, Bede reports that the hand and arm remained [[Incorruptibility|uncorrupted]] after Oswald's death.<ref>[[wikisource:Ecclesiastical History of the English People/Book 3#6|Bede, Book III, chapter 6.]]</ref>