Æthelfrith and Edwin 598AD-633AD
Northumbria, “North of the Humber” was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom formed by merging Bernicia, north of the Tees, with Deira to the south. Northumbria’s first two kings were a Bernician called Æthelfrith and a Deiran called Edwin. Æthelfrith was a pagan, but King Edwin of Northumbria became the North’s first Christian king after baptism at York in 627AD.
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598AD -Battle of Catterick
Angles defeat the native Britons at Catterick. The ancient British tribal kingdom of Catraeth was based in the valleys of the Tees and Swale and has been subdued by the Germanic Angles. The Catterick area was the scene of fierce resistance against the Romans in earlier centuries.
603AD – Northern king defeats the Scots
Æthelfrith, King of Bernicia, has defeated Aidan MacGabrain, King of the Dalriada Scots at the Battle of Degastan to the north east of Gretna. The Dalriada Scots live in western Caledonia and originate from Hibernia (Ireland) and were assisted by a large force of Ulstermen in the battle. Aethelfrith’s victories in battle have forced the kingdoms of Strathclyde in the west, Rheged in Cumbria and Gododdin in the Lothians to recognise Bernician superiority.
604AD – Æthelfrith is Northumbrian king
Æthelfrith has taken the crown of Deira in the Yorkshire wolds and so has united all the Anglo-Saxon territory north of the River Humber into one kingdom which will be called Northumbria.
604AD – King marries Deiran princess
Æthelfrith, King of Northumbria, has gained support from his new province of Deira (Yorkshire) by marrying Acha, a member of the Deiran royal family. The marriage is unlikely to stop Acha’s brother Edwin from claiming the Deiran throne.
610AD – Midland king shelters claimant
King Cearl of Mercia (in the Midlands) has taken Prince Edwin under his protection. Edwin’s presence in the Mercian court will be a great threat to Æthelfrith, the King of Northumbria.
615AD – King names Bamburgh for his wife
The Bernician fortress capital of Din Guaire (or Din Guayroi) has been renamed Bebbanburgh (later Bamburgh). It has been named after Queen Bebba, the new wife of Æthelfrith following Acha’s untimely death. Bamburgh has continued to be known by its old Celtic name despite its capture by the Anglo-Saxon chief Ida in 547. Since that time it has been the chief fort and capital of northern Northumbria. The site’s new name means Bebba’s fort.
615AD – Edwin exiled by Northumbrians
King Æthelfrith has ousted King Cearl from the Kingdom of Mercia and installed a puppet. Edwin, the Prince of Deira, who had been under Cearl’s protection and has taken refuge with the royal family of East Anglia.
615AD – Northumbrians capture Cumbria
Cumbria has been seized by King Aethelfrith and added to the Kingdom of Northumbria.
616AD – Æthelfrith killed in battle
Æthelfrith has been killed in battle against Raedwald of East Anglia at Bawtry on the River Idle near the borders of Northumbria and Mercia. Oswald, Æthelfrith’s son has fled Northumbria and taken refuge on the Scottish island monastery of Iona.
616AD – Edwin king of Northumbria
Edwin, a Deiran and the son of Aelle, the first King of Deira has become the new King of Northumbria, although he has to fight rivals in the north to secure his crown.
625AD – Edwin marries a Christian
King Edwin of Northumbria has married a Christian princess called Ethelberga of Kent. The marriage reflects Edwin’s desire to form an alliance with King Eadbald of Kent, who is the only Christian king in England.
626AD – Edwin seizes Hatfield and Lindsey
The native Celtic kingdom of Meicen (Hatfield) near Doncaster and the Anglian kingdom of Lindsey (Lincolnshire) have been captured by Edwin. Edwin’s power in the north is unequalled by any Anglian predecessor.
626AD – Assassination attempt on Edwin
Eumer, an agent of Cuichelm, King of the West Saxons (Wessex), has attempted to assassinate King Edwin while he was celebrating the pagan festival of Easter at his royal palace in the Yorkshire wolds between York and Beverley. The assassin entered the King’s court and asked to speak with the king on the pretence of having an important message from the West Saxon King. On seeing the king, Eumer produced a poisoned dagger from beneath his cloak and attempted to stab Edwin. Fortunately one of Edwin’s men, Lillam, jumped in the way and was killed. A fight followed in which Edwin was injured but Eumer was eventually put to death. On the same night Edwin’s queen, Ethelburga, gave birth.
626AD – Northumbrians defeat Wessex
Angered by the West Saxons’ assassination attempt, Edwin has defeated them in a great battle in Wessex and proclaimed himself over king or ‘Bretwalda’ of all England.
April 11, 627AD – Edwin is a Christian
King Edwin has been converted to Christianity by a missionary called St Paulinus. Edwin promised to become a Christian after defeating the West Saxons. He was baptised at York in the new wooden church of St Peter (a predecessor of York Minster).
627AD – Edwin and Paulinus
Mass baptisms have been performed by the Roman Christian missionary Paulinus, who accompanied Edwin on tours of his kingdom. Involving perhaps thousands of people the mass baptisms are known to have taken place in the River Glen near Edwin’s Palace of Ad Gefrin in north Northumberland and in the River Swale near Catterick and possibly at Holystone in Coquetdale. Edwin’s Anglian palace site at Ad Gefrin lies near the foot of the prominent former Celtic hill fort stronghold of Yeavering Bell.
628AD – Edwin rebuilds York Minster
King Edwin has begun rebuilding the wooden church of St Peter’s at York in stone.
Oct 12, 633AD – Edwin dies in battle
King Edwin has been killed in Battle at Heathfield (Hatfield near Doncaster) by Penda, a Mercian chief. Penda was assisted in the battle by the Welsh under the leadership of Caedwalla. Osric, a possible successor to Edwin, has also been killed in the battle. Edwin’s son Edfrith has surrendered to Penda.
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