oswiu was born he was a son of king athelfrith of bernicia and his second wife acha of deira. he was a younger brother of king oswald of northumbria. when he was about 6 years old his father was killed in battle by edwin who became king of northumbria. along with his brothers eanfrith and oswald and their sister aebbe, he found safety with the scots in dál riata. the monks of iona baptized the children and raised them in the celtic christian faith.