ANGLO-SAXON NORTHUMBRIA

The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was formed by the amalgamation of two smaller kingdoms, cAD 600. Bernicia, the northernmost of the two was centred on Bamburgh and Deira in the south centred on York. Both kingdoms had their own ruling dynasties that competed for overall control of Northumbria in the early part of the 7th century. The British kingdoms of Rheged and Gododdin were permanently conquered during the 7th century. At the height of its power Northumbria extended from the English Midlands to Strathclyde. Its kings recognized as overlords of Britain.

The most famous king of Northumbria was Oswald (AD 634-42) who was a member of the Bernician dynasty. Oswald was born a pagan but converted to Christianity whilst in exile in Scotland at the island monastery of Iona. Oswald regained his father's throne in a great battle having demanded that his army fight as Christians. He was not he first Christian ruler of Northumbria, that was Edwin (AD 616-34), his political rival from the Deiran royal house. Oswald sent to Iona for monks to help convert the people of his kingdom to Christianity. They were led by St Aidan, who with a land grant form Oswald, founded Northumbria's first monastery, at Lindisfarne, in AD 635.

The island of Lindisfarne seen from Bamburgh Castle

St Aidan's monastery at Lindisfarne lies beneath the site of the later medieval priory

Oswald died in battle fighting against Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, and was soon canonised. Northumbria's first Saint. His body was dismembered after the battle, though his head and right arm were later recovered from the battlefield and became relics of great significance. The arm was preserved in the chapel within Bamburgh Castle up to the 11th century. Oswald is not well known now but his cult was famous throughout Western Europe in the medieval period.

Having taken root at Lindisfarne Christianity spread rapidly within Northumbria and many monasteries were founded. The most important of which were Hexham, Whitby and Coldingham. The twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow were founded in the late 7th century and are famous as the home of the great Christian Scholar, Bede (born cAD 674-735).

The most famous saint of early Northumbria was Cuthbert (born cAD 634-687). Cuthbert was born in the Tweed Valley and educated at the monastery at Old Melrose. He died Bishop of Lindisfarne and the monks of that monastery preserved his body and cultivated his cult.

The site of the Anglo-Saxon monastery at Old Melrose lay in a loop of the River Tweed. Nothing now stands to mark the site, which is seen here in the foreground fringed by trees, with the Eildon Hills in the background

During his time as bishop of Lindisfarne Cuthbert increasingly chose to retreat from the material world, first to St Cuthbert's Island at Lindisfarne (above). His final years were spend in an even more remote place, the island of the Inner Farne off the coast at Bamburgh

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