Difference between revisions of "Northumbria"
(New page: Northumbria was an Anglian kingdom of the Heptarchy period, covering a large area of what is now northern England and southern Scotland. At its peak, it extended from the River...) |
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Northumbria was an Anglian kingdom of the [[Heptarchy]] period, covering a large area of what is now northern [[England]] and southern [[Scotland]]. At its peak, it extended from the Rivers [[Humber]] and [[Mersey]] in the south to the Firth of Forth and the northern shores of the [[Solway Firth]] in the north. | Northumbria was an Anglian kingdom of the [[Heptarchy]] period, covering a large area of what is now northern [[England]] and southern [[Scotland]]. At its peak, it extended from the Rivers [[Humber]] and [[Mersey]] in the south to the Firth of Forth and the northern shores of the [[Solway Firth]] in the north. | ||
| − | == History of Northumbria == | + | === History of Northumbria === |
| − | ( | + | The Kingdom of Northumbria was formed by the union of the kingdoms of Bernicia (north of the River [[Tees]]) and Deira (south of the Tees, roughly corresponding with the county of [[Yorkshire]]. Berniccia was traditionally founded by the Anglian chieftain Ida who seized the coastal strong point of Bamburgh in AD 547, and from that point conquered what is now modern [[Northumberland]]. More recent scholarship suggests that Bernicia developed as a Celtic-Anglian kingdom, with centres of kingship at Bamburgh, Yeavering and Millfield. |
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| + | The kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira were united under Aethelfrith of Bernicia in 604; he was killed in battle in 616 and replaced by Edwin, the son of a former king of Deira. Edwin converted to Christianity and became the most powerful ruler in Great Britain, expanding Northumbrian territory by conquering the [[Isle of Man]] and parts of north [[Wales]]; however, his enemies combined against him and he was killed in 633. Edwins death led to a period of warfare and fragmentation of the kingdom, but it was reunited after 634 under the exiled Bernician noble Oswald, who, backed by troops of the Irish kingdom of [[Dalriada]] (where he had lived in exile), defeated the Welsh king Cadwallon at the Battle of Heavenfield, near [[Hadrian's Wall]] in [[Northumberland]], in 634. | ||
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| + | Oswald invited Celtic monks from [[Iona]] under Aidan to form a monastery on [[Holy Island]] ([[Lindisfarne]]); between 650 and 750 Northumbrian monasticism was an intellectual beacon | ||
Revision as of 11:06, June 14, 2007
Northumbria was an Anglian kingdom of the Heptarchy period, covering a large area of what is now northern England and southern Scotland. At its peak, it extended from the Rivers Humber and Mersey in the south to the Firth of Forth and the northern shores of the Solway Firth in the north.
History of Northumbria
The Kingdom of Northumbria was formed by the union of the kingdoms of Bernicia (north of the River Tees) and Deira (south of the Tees, roughly corresponding with the county of Yorkshire. Berniccia was traditionally founded by the Anglian chieftain Ida who seized the coastal strong point of Bamburgh in AD 547, and from that point conquered what is now modern Northumberland. More recent scholarship suggests that Bernicia developed as a Celtic-Anglian kingdom, with centres of kingship at Bamburgh, Yeavering and Millfield.
The kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira were united under Aethelfrith of Bernicia in 604; he was killed in battle in 616 and replaced by Edwin, the son of a former king of Deira. Edwin converted to Christianity and became the most powerful ruler in Great Britain, expanding Northumbrian territory by conquering the Isle of Man and parts of north Wales; however, his enemies combined against him and he was killed in 633. Edwins death led to a period of warfare and fragmentation of the kingdom, but it was reunited after 634 under the exiled Bernician noble Oswald, who, backed by troops of the Irish kingdom of Dalriada (where he had lived in exile), defeated the Welsh king Cadwallon at the Battle of Heavenfield, near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, in 634.
Oswald invited Celtic monks from Iona under Aidan to form a monastery on Holy Island (Lindisfarne); between 650 and 750 Northumbrian monasticism was an intellectual beacon