Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Aldulf (d.1002)
ALDULF, or EALDULF (d. 1002), archbishop of York, is said by Hugh, called Candidus, the historian of Peterborough, writing about 1175, to have been ‘chancellor' to King Eadgar. Having killed his only son by accidentally overlaying him as the child slept between him and his wife, he was about to seek absolution at Rome, but was persuaded by bishop Æthelwold to do good deeds at home, as an atonement for his involuntary sin. He accordingly became a monk of the abbey of Medeshamstede or Burgh (Peterborough), which was then in ruins, and devoted all his wealth to rebuilding it. We know on more certain authority that he was made abbot of Burgh when that house was rebuilt by bishop Æthelwold in 963, and that the new abbot bought many lands, and ‘greatly enriched the minster withal' (A.-S. Chron. sub an. 963). He remained abbot until the death of Oswald, archbishop of York, in 992, and was then chosen to succeed him. With York he also held the see of Worcester, as Oswald did before him. In 994 he signs a charter as bishop only; in 995 as elect to the archbishopric; and in 996 in a grant of his own as archbishop. We may, therefore, conclude that, though he was elected to the see of York, as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us, in 992, he did not receive the pall until 995–6. Like Oswald he was a munificent benefactor to the abbey of Fleury. On 15 April 1002 he translated the body of Oswald with great honour at Worcester. He died 6 May of the same year, and was buried in his church in that city.
[Hugo Candidus, Hist. Ang. Script. ed. Sparke, p. 18; A.-S. Chron. sub an. 963; Florence of Worcester, sub an. 1002; Simeon, 162; Chron. Monast. de Abingdon (Rolls Ser.), i. 405, ii. 262; Will. Malm. de Gestis Pontif. iii. 270; Codex Dipl. ed. Kemble, Hist. Soc. iii. 280, 283, 291, 296.]