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Kingdom of Northumbria
Norþanhymbra rīċe (Old English)
Regnum Northanhymbrorum (Latin)

Unified Anglian kingdom (654–867)
North:
Independent Anglian ruled territory (after 867)
South:
Viking-ruled York (867–927; 939–944; 947–954)

Old English
Cumbric
Latin
Old Norse (in Scandinavian York)

Paganism (before 7th century)
Christianity (after 7th century)

Northumbrian

Monarchy

 

654

867

927

954

The name derives from the Old English Norþanhymbre meaning "the people or province north of the Humber",[6] as opposed to the people south of the Humber Estuary. Northumbria started to consolidate into one kingdom in the early seventh century, when the two earlier core territories of Deira and Bernicia entered into a dynastic union. At its height, the kingdom extended from the Humber, Peak District and the River Mersey on the south to the Firth of Forth on the north. Northumbria ceased to be an independent kingdom in the mid-tenth century when Deira was conquered by the Danes and formed into the Kingdom of York. The rump Earldom of Bamburgh maintained control of Bernicia for a period of time; however, the area north of the Tweed was eventually absorbed into the medieval Kingdom of Scotland while the portion south of the Tweed was absorbed into the Kingdom of England as the county of Northumberland and County Palatine of Durham.

Religion[edit]

Roman and post-Roman Britain[edit]

Under Roman rule, some Britons north of the Humber practised Christianity. York had a bishop as early as the fourth century.[75] After the Romans left Britain in the early fifth century, Christianity did not disappear,[76] but it existed alongside Celtic paganism,[77] and possibly many other cults.[78] Anglo-Saxons brought their own Germanic pagan beliefs and practices when they settled there. At Yeavering, in Bernicia, excavations have uncovered evidence of a pagan shrine, animal sacrifice, and ritual burials.[79]

Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity[edit]

The first King of Northumbria to convert to Christianity was King Edwin. He was baptized by Paulinus in 627.[80] Shortly thereafter, many of his people followed his conversion to the new religion, only to return to paganism when Edwin was killed in 633. Paulinus was Bishop of York, but only for a year.[81]


The lasting conversion of Northumbria took place under the guidance of the Irish cleric Aidan. He converted King Oswald of Northumbria in 635, and then worked to convert the people of Northumbria.[82] King Oswald moved the bishopric from York to Lindisfarne.[81]

Monasteries and figures of note[edit]

The monastery at Lindisfarne was founded by Aidan in 635, and based on the practices of the Columban monastery in Iona, Scotland.[83] The location of the bishopric shifted to Lindisfarne, and it became the centre for religion in Northumbria. The bishopric would not leave Lindisfarne and shift back to its original location at York until 664.[81] Throughout the eighth century, Lindisfarne was associated with important figures. Aidan, the founder, Wilfrid, a student, and Cuthbert, a member of the order and a hermit, all became bishops and later Saints. Aidan assisted Heiu to found her double monastery at Hartlepool.[84] She too came to be venerated as a saint.[85]


The Christianity culture of Northumbria was influenced by the continent as well as Ireland. In particular, Wilfrid travelled to Rome and abandoned the traditions of the Celtic church in favour of Roman practices. When he returned to England, he became abbot of a new monastery at Ripon in 660. Wilfrid advocated acceptance of the authority of Rome at the Synod of Whitby. The two-halves of the double monastery Monkwearmouth–Jarrow were founded by the nobleman Benedict Biscop in 673 and 681. Biscop became the first abbot of the monastery, and travelled to Rome six times to buy books for the library.[86] His successor, Abbot Ceolfrith, continued to add to the library until by one estimate the library at Monkwearmouth–Jarrow had over two hundred volumes.[86] One who benefited from this library was Bede.[87]


In the early seventh century in York, Paulinus founded a school and a minster but not a monastery. The School at York Minster is one of the oldest in England.[88] By the late eighth century, the school had a noteworthy library, estimated at one hundred volumes.[89] Alcuin was a student and teacher at York before he left for the court of Charlemagne in 782.[90]

English of Northumbria

Geordie dialect words

Hen Ogledd

History of Northumberland

Northumbrian music

Northumbrian smallpipes

Northumbrian tartan

Edmonds, Fiona (2019). Gaelic Influence in the Northumbrian Kingdom: The Golden Age and the Viking Age. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell.  9781783273362.

ISBN

Lowlands-L, An e-mail discussion list for those who share an interest in the languages & cultures of the Lowlands

Lowlands-L in Nothumbrian

Northumbrian Language Society

Northumbrian Small Pipes Encyclopedia

Northumbrian Traditional Music

Visit Northumberland – The Official Visitor Site for Northumberland