Northumbria. Genealogy of the Kings of Northumbria Kings of Northumbria

Northumbria (Britain)

The Kingdom of Northumbria (Old English: Nor?hymbra rice) is one of the seven kingdoms of the so-called Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, which arose in the north of Britain.

Northumbria is an Anglo-Saxon state formed as a result of the unification of Bernicia and Deira in 655. After unification, it existed until 867, when it was captured by the Vikings.

Etymology and territory

Northumbria (English Northumbria) from obsolete English. Northumber - designation for a person living north of the Humber.

The kingdoms of Bernicia (Old English: Bernice) and Deira (Old English: Derenrice). The first of these occupied the county of Northumberland and at times extended to the Firth of Forth. The Kingdom of Deira was located in the county of Yorkshire.

Background. Bernicia and Deira

In the territory where the kingdom of Northumbria arose in 655, there were previously two Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Bernicia and Deira, which were formed as a result of the Anglo-Saxon conquest of the British regions of Bryneich and Deifir. Bryneich captured Ida in 547 and renamed it Bernicia, and Deifir subjugated Ella in 559, calling it Deira. The newly created kingdoms were constantly at war with neighboring British states, trying to seize a dominant position in the territory of the Ancient North.

Ida had numerous offspring, who subsequently tried to increase the territory of the kingdom inherited from their father, but this opposition was constantly met with fierce resistance from the Britons, who did not want to cede their original lands to foreign invaders. In 586, the position of the Anglo-Saxons turned out to be completely critical, since the united troops of the Britons under the leadership of Urien acted against Hussa, who first attacked Bernicia, and then besieged and captured Bamborough, displacing the Anglo-Saxons from the coast and almost completely destroying their power in the region. However, as a result of the betrayal of the ruler Gododin Morkant during the siege of Lindisfarne, a series of internecine wars broke out between the Britons, after which the Anglo-Saxons managed to recapture the lost territories within a short period of time.

Unlike Ida, Ella had only one daughter, Aha, and one son, Edwin, who was a three-year-old infant at the time of his father's death. Therefore, after Ella's death, he was succeeded by his younger brother Ethelric (Ælfric), who was constantly under threat of overthrow and had only nominal power.

The first kings of the united kingdom

After Hussa's death in 593, the throne of Bernicia was inherited by his nephew, Æthelric's son Æthelfrith, whose first wife was Bebba, in whose honor the capital of Bernicia was renamed Bebbanburg. Ethelfrith was a very active and enterprising ruler, under whom Bernicia constantly got involved in all sorts of armed conflicts, and, moreover, did not always emerge victorious from them. However, these tactics ultimately led him to capture Deira when he dethroned Aelle's brother Aethelric in 604. In order to legitimize his power over Deira, he married Ella's daughter Aha. Having captured a neighboring state, Ethelfrith became the first ruler of the united kingdom, which later became known as Northumbria, thereby acquiring the title of the most powerful king of Northern England, however, with all this, both provinces of the new formation at that time were constantly at odds with each other, thereby showing their reluctance to merge . The legal heir of Deira, Edwin the Saint, son of Ella, was at that time in exile, where he had been sent during the reign of his uncle Ethelric. In order to eliminate his rival, Ethelfrith made great efforts, constantly taking an active part in hostilities directed against those kingdoms where Edwin was hiding.

Finally, in 616, Æthelfrith was defeated in the Battle of the River Idla by the king of East Anglia, Raedwald, with whom Ella's son found his last refuge. This victory allowed Edwin to become ruler of the united kingdom of Bernicia and Deira, since Raedwald did not lay claim to either of them. Having received the throne of Northumbria, Edwin eventually brought most of modern Northern England under his rule, and after the death of Raedwald he became the most powerful Anglo-Saxon monarch and was recognized as the Bretwald of all Anglo-Saxon Britain. However, his power did not have a solid foundation, since it relied only on Edwin’s personal connections with the kings of the southern Anglo-Saxon states and immediately disintegrated after his death. In 633, the British king of Gwynedd Cadwallon opposed him, who tried to regain the lands lost during the reign of Æthelfrith. In alliance with King Penda of Mercia, Cadwallon attacked Edwin's kingdom, after which on October 12 of the same year the opponents fought at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, during which Edwin was killed along with his eldest son Osfrith. His youngest son Eadfrith was taken hostage by Penda and was killed by him some time later.

The final unification of Bernicia and Deira. Northumbrian education

After the death of Edwin, the united kingdom began to fall into a fever, which resulted in the proclamation of two kings - Enfrith, the eldest son of Ethelfrith, in Bernicia and Osric, the son of Ethelric, in Deira. Their reign, however, was short, since a year later they were killed by the same Cadwallon, after which for a short time both kingdoms came under his rule.

At the end of 634, Enfreeth's half-brother Oswald the Saint gathered a well-trained army and destroyed Cadwallon's superior forces at the Battle of Havenfelt, after which the united kingdom was once again under the rule of a single monarch. In addition, on his mother's side, Oswald was the grandson of Edwin the Saint, so he was related by blood ties to both royal dynasties. Through his efforts, both provinces of Northumbria, Bernicia and Deira, which had previously been constantly at odds with each other, finally became one, forgetting old grievances and disagreements. Almost immediately after coming to power, Oswald made sure that his subordinates accepted the Christian faith, for which he gained such love among his subjects that after his death they began to venerate him as a saint. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Oswald, like his predecessor Edwin, was killed by King Penda of Mercia on 5 August 642 near Oswestry at the Battle of Motherfelt.

The murder of Oswald again strained relations between the two provinces of Northumbria, which is why at the end of 642 his brother Oswiu was elected king of Bernicia, and some time later, at the beginning of 644, the throne of Deira was taken by the son of Osric and the great-grandson of Ella Oswin. However, he was too peace-loving and pious, therefore, when Oswiu decided to seize his kingdom, Oswin entered into war with him only out of extreme necessity, and during one of the battles he left the battlefield altogether, not wanting to shed the blood of others, after which he went to Count Hunvold, whom he considered his friend. True, the latter behaved in a completely different way, betraying him to Oswiu, who on August 20, 651 ordered the death of Oswin. However, contrary to his expectations, Oswiu did not get what he wanted, since after the death of Oswin, Oswald's son Ethelwald was elevated to the throne of Deira, who in 655 entered into an alliance with Penda and Ethelher, the king of East Anglia, in order to jointly attack Bernicia. However, before the decisive battle, rightly deciding that victory on either side would not bring him any benefit, Ethelwald decided to conserve his strength. Therefore, when on November 15, both troops met on the battlefield on the banks of the Vinved River, the king of Deira hastened to leave the lists, as a result of which confusion began in the united army, which Oswiu did not fail to take advantage of, completely defeating the allies and killing their leaders. However, Ethelwald did not long outlive his recent like-minded people, dying at the end of 655.

With the victory at Vinved, Oswiu finally united Bernicia and Deira as part of Northumbria. Although it should also be noted here that in 656 Oswiu allowed his son Elfrith to rule in Deira as a vassal king, despite the fact that he fought against his father on the side of Penda. But in 664, probably after another attempt to plot against his father, Elfrith was removed from this position, and Eldfrith took his place. After the death of Oswiu in 670, the Deirans rebelled against him and transferred power to Eldfrith's half-brother Egfrith, and he, in turn, in the same year appointed his younger brother Elfwine, who at that time was still just a child and had no real power, as the vassal king of Deira. . In 679, the brothers opposed the King of Mercia, Ethelred I. A battle between them took place on the Trent River, in which the Northumbrians were defeated, and Ælfwine was killed in it. After his death, the title of King of Deira completely disappeared, and from then on only the rulers of Northumbria began to be mentioned, which existed until the middle of the 10th century, when it was finally conquered by Wessex.

The capital of Northumbria became Eoferwic (Roman Eborac and present-day York).

Northumbrian core Norhymbra RiceKingdom

The Kingdom of Northumbria (Old English Norhymbra Rice/Noranhymbra/Norhymbre) is one of the seven kingdoms of the so-called Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, which arose in the north of Britain.

Northumbria is an Anglo-Saxon state formed as a result of the unification of Bernicia and Deira in 655. After unification, it existed until 867, when it was captured by the Vikings.

Story

Etymology and territory

Northumbria means "the land north of the Humber" in Old English.

Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira (in Anglo-Saxon Bernicia and Deira). The first of these occupied the county of Northumberland and at times extended to the Firth of Forth. The Kingdom of Deira was located in the county of Yorkshire.

Background. Bernicia and Deira

In the territory where the Kingdom of Northumbria arose in 655, there used to be two small Anglo-Saxon states, Bernicia and Deira, which were formed as a result of the Anglo-Saxon conquest of the British regions of Bryneich and Deifir. Bryneich captured Ida in 547 and renamed it Bernicia, and Deifir subjugated Ella in 559, calling it Deira. The newly created kingdoms were constantly at war with neighboring British states, trying to seize a dominant position in the territory of the Ancient North.

Ida had numerous offspring, who subsequently tried to increase the territory of the kingdom inherited from their father, but this opposition was constantly met with fierce resistance from the Britons, who did not want to cede their original lands to foreign invaders. In 586, the position of the Anglo-Saxons turned out to be completely critical, since the united troops of the Britons under the leadership of Urien acted against Hussa, who first attacked Bernicia, and then besieged and captured Bamborough, displacing the Anglo-Saxons from the coast and almost completely destroying their power in the region. However, as a result of the betrayal of the ruler Gododin Morkant during the siege of Lindisfarne, a series of internecine wars broke out between the Britons, after which the Anglo-Saxons managed to recapture the lost territories within a short period of time.

Unlike Ida, Ella had only one daughter, Aha, and one son, Edwin, who was a three-year-old infant at the time of his father's death. Therefore, after Ella's death, he was succeeded by his younger brother Ethelric (Ælfric), who was constantly under threat of overthrow and had only nominal power.

The first kings of the united kingdom

King Edwin and Saint Paulinus. Illustration by John Speed ​​(English)Russian. (1611)

After Hussa's death in 593, the throne of Bernicia was inherited by his nephew, Æthelric's son Æthelfrith, whose first wife was Bebba, in whose honor the capital of Bernicia was renamed Bebbanburg. Ethelfrith was a very active and enterprising ruler, under whom Bernicia constantly got involved in all sorts of armed conflicts, and, moreover, did not always emerge victorious from them. However, these tactics ultimately led him to capture Deira when he dethroned Aelle's brother Aethelric in 604. In order to legitimize his power over Deira, he married Ella's daughter Aha. Having captured a neighboring state, Ethelfrith became the first ruler of the united kingdom, which later became known as Northumbria, thereby acquiring the title of the most powerful king of Northern England, however, with all this, both provinces of the new formation at that time were constantly at odds with each other, thereby showing their reluctance to merge . The legal heir of Deira, Edwin the Saint, son of Ella, was at that time in exile, where he had been sent during the reign of his uncle Ethelric. In order to eliminate his rival, Ethelfrith made great efforts, constantly taking an active part in hostilities directed against those kingdoms where Edwin was hiding.

Finally, in 616, Æthelfrith was defeated in the Battle of the River Idla by the king of East Anglia, Raedwald, with whom Ella's son found his last refuge. This victory allowed Edwin to become ruler of the united kingdom of Bernicia and Deira, since Raedwald did not lay claim to either of them. Having received the throne of Northumbria, Edwin eventually brought under his rule most of modern Northern England, and after the death of Raedwald he became the most powerful Anglo-Saxon monarch and was recognized as the Bretwald of all Anglo-Saxon Britain. However, his power did not have a solid foundation, since it relied only on Edwin’s personal connections with the kings of the southern Anglo-Saxon states and immediately disintegrated after his death. In 633, the British king of Gwynedd Cadwallon opposed him, who tried to regain the lands lost during the reign of Æthelfrith. In alliance with King Penda of Mercia, Cadwallon attacked Edwin's kingdom, after which on October 12 of the same year the opponents fought at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, during which Edwin was killed along with his eldest son Osfrith. His youngest son Eadfrith was taken hostage by Penda and was killed by him some time later.

The final unification of Bernicia and Deira. Northumbrian education

Stained glass window depicting St Oswald in Gloucester Cathedral.

After the death of Edwin, the united kingdom began to fall into a fever, which resulted in the proclamation of two kings - Enfrith, the eldest son of Ethelfrith, in Bernicia and Osric, the son of Ethelric, in Deira. Their reign, however, was short, since a year later they were killed by the same Cadwallon, after which for a short time both kingdoms came under his rule.

At the end of 634, Enfreeth's half-brother Oswald the Saint gathered a well-trained army and destroyed Cadwallon's superior forces at the Battle of Havenfelt, after which the united kingdom was once again under the rule of a single monarch. In addition, on his mother's side, Oswald was the grandson of Edwin the Saint, so he was related by blood ties to both royal dynasties. Through his efforts, both provinces of Northumbria, Bernicia and Deira, which had previously been constantly at odds with each other, finally became one, forgetting old grievances and disagreements. Almost immediately after coming to power, Oswald made sure that his subordinates accepted the Christian faith, for which he gained such love among his subjects that after his death they began to venerate him as a saint. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Oswald, like his predecessor Edwin, was killed by King Penda of Mercia on 5 August 642 near Oswestry at the Battle of Motherfelt.

The murder of Oswald again strained relations between the two provinces of Northumbria, which is why at the end of 642 his brother Oswiu was elected king of Bernicia, and some time later, at the beginning of 644, the throne of Deira was taken by the son of Osric and the great-grandson of Ella Oswin. However, he was too peace-loving and pious, therefore, when Oswiu decided to seize his kingdom, Oswin entered into war with him only out of extreme necessity, and during one of the battles he left the battlefield altogether, not wanting to shed the blood of others, after which he went to Count Hunvold, whom he considered his friend. True, the latter behaved in a completely different way, betraying him to Oswiu, who on August 20, 651 ordered the death of Oswin. However, contrary to his expectations, Oswiu did not get what he wanted, since after the death of Oswin, Oswald's son Ethelwald was elevated to the throne of Deira, who in 655 entered into an alliance with Penda and Ethelher, the king of East Anglia, in order to jointly attack Bernicia. However, before the decisive battle, rightly deciding that victory on either side would not bring him any benefit, Ethelwald decided to conserve his strength. Therefore, when on November 15, both troops met on the battlefield on the banks of the Vinved River, the king of Deira hastened to leave the lists, as a result of which confusion began in the united army, which Oswiu did not fail to take advantage of, completely defeating the allies and killing their leaders. However, Ethelwald did not long outlive his recent like-minded people, dying at the end of 655.

With the victory at Vinved, Oswiu finally united Bernicia and Deira as part of Northumbria. Although it should also be noted here that in 656 Oswiu allowed his son Elfrith to rule in Deira as a vassal king, despite the fact that he fought against his father on the side of Penda. But in 664, probably after another attempt to plot against his father, Elfrith was removed from this position, and Eldfrith took his place. After the death of Oswiu in 670, the Deirans rebelled against him and transferred power to Eldfrith's half-brother Egfrith, and he, in turn, in the same year appointed his younger brother Elfwine, who at that time was still just a child and had no real power, as the vassal king of Deira. . In 679, the brothers opposed the King of Mercia, Ethelred I. A battle between them took place on the Trent River, in which the Northumbrians were defeated, and Ælfwine was killed in it. After his death, the title of King of Deira completely disappeared, and from then on only the rulers of Northumbria began to be mentioned, which existed until the middle of the 10th century, when it was finally conquered by Wessex.

The capital of Northumbria became Eoferwic (Roman Eborac and present-day York).

Kingdom of Northumbria

Sub-kings of Northumbria under the Norse kingdom of Jorvik

In the 9th century, the territory of Northumbria was conquered first by the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex and then by the Danes. Around 924, the territory of Northumbria was finally annexed to Wessex.

Deira under Jorvik

Ealdormen of Bernicia

Genealogy of the kings of Bernicia and Northumbria

The royal dynasty of Iding (Eopping) was named after the founder and first ruler of Bernicia, Ida, who became the ancestor of a large royal family that ruled first in Bernicia and then in Northumbria. Ida traditionally begins a chain of dynastic descent that goes beyond mere mention. The first historically identified king of the dynasty, whose existence none of the scientists doubt, is Ethelfrith.

Regarding the origin of Ida and his numerous sons, mentioned in various historical sources, disputes do not subside among historians, since their number in various sources is indicated differently, and their names are different. Scientists cannot come to a common opinion, so they consider some of his sons to be side effects, and some are even attributed to his grandchildren. In addition, some sources were written much later than the reign of Ida, so many historians question the reliability of the information mentioned in them.

The mythical origin of Ida

Ida Bernitsysky. Illustration by John Speed ​​(English)Russian.

Nennius, in his “History of the Britons” (lat. Historia brittonum), traces the genealogy of Ida’s mythical ancestors to the supreme god of the Anglo-Saxons, Odin:

Beldeg
Beornek
Gechbrond (Wegbrand)
Ingebrand
Aluzon
Yngvi (Angengit)
Editbrit (Ethelbert)
Esa
Eoppa

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle also traces the family tree of Ida's mythical ancestors to Odin:

Geata Godolf Finn Fritowulf Fritolaf Woden
Balday
Brand
Bennock
Gechbrond
Allok
Angenvit
Yngwie
Esa
Eoppa

Historical dynasty

Family tree of the Yiding dynasty, monarchs in bold:

Ida king of Bernicia in 547-559; wife: Bearnoch

Adda king of Bernicia in 560-568 Ethelric king of Bernicia in 568-572 (son or grandson of Ida)
Theodbald (killed in 603 at the Battle of Degsastan) Æthelfrith king of Bernicia in 593-616 and Deira in 604-616; 1st wife: Bebba; 2nd wife: Akha (Acha), daughter of King Deira Ella
Enfrith king of Bernicia in 633-634; mother: Bebba; wife: N, sister of the Pictish king Nechton II
Talorcan I king of the Picts in 653-657 N (daughter) husband: king of Strathclyde Beli I
Brude III king of the Picts 671-693

Oswald the Holy King of Northumbria 634-642; mother: Aha; 1st wife: N (Irish?); 2nd wife: Kineburga, daughter of King Kinegils of Wessex

Æthelwald king of Deira in 651-655; mother: N

Oswin Oswiu king of Bernicia in 642-655 and Northumbria in 655-670; mother: Aha; 1st wife: Fina of Ireland, daughter of Colman Rimid; 2nd wife: Rimmelt of Rheged, daughter of Royd; 3rd wife: Enfleda of Deira, daughter of Edwin the Saint

Eldfrith king of Deira in 664-670 and Northumbria in 685-704; mother: Fina Irish; wife: Cutburga, sister of King Ine of Wessex
Osred I king of Northumbria in 705-716 Offa (d. 750) Osric king of Northumbria in 718-729 (unidentified, possibly son of Eldfrith) Holy Osana

Elfled mother: Fina of Ireland; husband: king of Mercia Peda Elfrith king of Deira in 656-664; mother: Rimmelt of Reged; wife: Cyneburga, daughter of the Mercian king Penda Egfrith king of Northumbria in 670-685; mother: Enfleda of Deira; 1st wife: Etheldreda, daughter of King Anne of East Anglia; 2nd wife: Eormenburg

Egbert's mother: Eormenburg Oslak
Alun
Adlsing
Ehun
Oslaf

Elfwine king of Deira in 670-679; mother: Enfleda of Deira Ostrit mother: Enfleda of Deir; husband: King Aethelred I of Mercia Elflaed (b. c. 654) Abbess of Whitby; mother: Enfleda of Deira

Oswood Oslaf Offa Ebba Abbess of Coldingham

Belric Theodric king of Bernicia in 572-579

NN (sons)

Theodher Osmer Ogga (Ogg) (illegitimate)

Eldhelm (Edric)
Egwald (Egwulf)
Eadwulf I (d. 717) King of Northumbria 704-705
Ernwin (killed in 740)
Eardwulf (d. 774/775); ealdorman
Eardwulf king of Northumbria in 796-806 and 808-810
Enred king of Northumbria 810-841
Aethelred II king of Northumbria in 841-844 and 844-848

Leodwald

Kutvin
(Kuta)
Coenred king of Northumbria in 716-718 Ceolwulf (d. 765); King of Northumbria 729-737
Edbert (d. 768); King of Northumbria 737-758
Osgifu (daughter of Edbert or Oswulf); husband: Elchred, king of Northumbria in 765-774 Oswulf king of Northumbria in 758-759
Elfwold I king of Northumbria 779-788
Elf (killed in 791)) Elfvin (killed in 791) Bern (killed in 780)

Egbert, Archbishop of York 732-766 Egred (d. before 732)

Oswin (killed in 761)

Elric (Alrik) (illegitimate)

Blackmon
Bosa
Beornhom (Birnhom)
Enwin
Elkhred (d. after 774); king of Northumbria in 765-774; wife: Osgifu of Northumbria
Osred II (executed in 792); King of Northumbria in 788-790 Alkmund (killed c. 800); saint, martyr prince

Edric Egga (illegitimate) Oswald (illegitimate) Sogor (illegitimate) Sogeter (illegitimate) Glappa king of Bernicia in 559-560 (unidentified, possibly son of Ida) Frituwald king of Bernicia in 579-585 (unidentified, possibly son of Ida) Hussa king of Bernicia in 585-593 (unidentified, possibly son of Ida)

Hering (d. after 603)

“The territory of the British Isles from the end of the 4th century. AD began to be attacked by the tribes of the Angles, Jutes and Saxons, who founded the first states here. The process began at the end of the 5th century, when England was divided into three large barbarian kingdoms - the kingdom of the Angles, the kingdom of the Jutes and the kingdom of the Saxons, each of which was founded by the leaders who initially led the first settlers of the respective tribes. Later, the kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons split into several smaller monarchies, eventually forming seven main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms or the so-called Heptarchy, which chronologically corresponded to the 6th - mid-9th centuries. AD The term “heptarchy” in relation to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms began to be used only in the 12th century, when chronicles and annals about the history of England and its peoples began to appear. The authorship is attributed to Henry of Huntingdo, a famous historian of the Middle Ages."

The heptarchy included Mercia (West Angles), Northumbria (Northern Angles), East Anglia (East Angles), Wessex (West Saxons), Sussex (South Saxons), Kent (Jute tribes), Essex (East Saxons). In the middle of the 9th century. The rise of Wessex occurs, as a result of which the heptarchy ceased to exist, and all kingdoms were united into one - the kingdom of England.

Province of Northumberland

Territory of the present Northumbria(a sparsely populated area in the north of modern Scotland), was inhabited in ancient times. Archaeological finds made it possible to establish that the first people began to appear here about seven and a half thousand years ago (Bronze Age). Development of culture and civilization it began here in the Iron Age, when Celtic tribes reached the islands. They got here thanks to migration processes that took place in the 1st century. BC. European continent.

The Celts were replaced by the Romans, who for quite a long time remained the only rulers of this territory. It was part of the Roman Empire as a separate province called Britannia. At the same time, numerous tribes lived next to the Romans, which were gradually conquered by the empire and included in its composition. Active development of the province Northumberland began under the rule of Governor Gneus Julius Agricola, who seized vast lands in Scotland. As a result, in the late 70s - early 80s. In the first century AD, the province began to develop massive construction of communications, settlements and fortifications. As a result, roads appeared in Northumberland (the ruins of the two largest Stangate and Dere Street are still visible in Scotland), as well as a system of defensive structures - Andrianov And Antonin's shafts.

Given the attacks of the barbarians to which the Roman state was subjected, the emperor recalled the garrison from Britain. The departure of the Romans began in the 5th century, after which a period of constant wars and political chaos began here. Wars took place between different tribes of the Britons, who divided Northumberland into two areas - Bryneich and Deifir.

Anglo-Saxon conquest

Some stability in Britain came with the invasion of Anglo-Saxon tribes. The territory of Northumberland was captured by the English, who created their first kingdoms here. They were called Bernicia(in another transliteration the name Bernika appears) and Deira. Both kingdoms developed independently, but thanks to dynastic marriages and various alliances, they were practically a single state. Because of this, the kingdoms were united and then separated again, making it difficult for historians to study Bernicia and Deira separately.

Northumbria before unification

The Angles created their first settlement in the former Roman province Northumberland. This is where the kingdom was located Bernicia(formerly Bryneich), which occupied the territory in the north of the islands, right up to the Firth of Forth. The first ruler from 547 was Ida. Another kingdom was created nearby - Deira(now in Yorkshire). This territory once bore the British name Deifir, but the representative of the Anglian nobility, Ella, renamed it.

The two kingdoms were forced to create military-political and trade alliances, since they were constantly attacked from the north by tribes of warlike Britons. The wars led to the fact that at the end of the 80s. VI century English power in the kingdom was in danger of being overthrown. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the descendants of Ida were constantly trying to expand their lands at the expense of British territories. The situation was saved, but only due to the fact that one of the leaders of the Britons betrayed his fellow tribesmen. Wars broke out between them, which they took advantage of Anglo-Saxons. They reconquered their territories and created a new kingdom Northumbria. Its appearance was caused not only by a foreign policy threat, but also by the fact that the rulers of Deira had nominal power.

The legal ruler of this state - Prince Edwin (Ella's son) - was only three months old, and his uncle and sister could not effectively govern the country. The king initiated the unification Bernicia Ethelfrith, who took advantage of Deira's weakness.

Development of Northumbria

The history of the united kingdom began in 655 and lasted more than two hundred years - until 867, when it was conquered by the Vikings. The name of the new state meant that it was located in the territory lying north of the Humber River. Historians believe that the peak of development Northumbria occurred in the 7th-8th centuries, when the borders of the kingdom reached two seas - the Irish and the Northern.

These centuries were marked by successes in the political arena. Firstly, three kings were recognized as the most outstanding rulers - Edwin, Oswald and Oswy. With them Northumbria recognized as equal to other English kingdoms located in the south.

Secondly, an active period of development of culture and education began. This was achieved through the construction of two monasteries. Their buildings and structures were erected in parallel according to the same plan, which is why the temple complex began to be called the twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow. Quite quickly they turned into major European centers of education. Lived in one of the monasteries Trouble the Honorable, who was involved in completing the library. The first ruler of the kingdom was Ethelfrith, but he was killed in 616 by representatives of the family Ella.

By the time of his death, the king had managed to conquer neighboring tribes Britons, which increased the territory to the borders with Mercia. The next king was Edwin from the Deirin family, forcing the son of the previous ruler to flee to the Gauls. The new monarch was converted to Christianity by the kingdom's first bishop, who was a monk Pauline. After this, mass Christianization of the entire state began, although the local population did not particularly support the new religion. Evin pursued an active foreign policy based on constant conquests. The consequence of this was: the expansion of the western borders to the coast; transformation Northumbria into a powerful political force in the British Isles.

His opponents opposed the king's policy, as a result of which Evin died. This happened in 633, and caused the collapse of the single kingdom into two former parts - Bernicia And Deiro. Another negative point was that Christianization was temporarily stopped. Literally a year later, the king Oswald managed to create a new state union. In honor of this event, as a sign of the unity of the country, he founded the first diocese in the city Hexame. The first English church was built here. Oswald also conducted many campaigns, the main goal of which was to break the Celtic resistance and defeat the tribes Picts. The wars were fought with varying success, in one of the campaigns the king was killed, and Northumbria lost its former influence. For many years, wars broke out in the kingdom between representatives of families from Bernicia and Deira. Only the king managed to overcome internecine strife Oswi. Only then did Northumbria become truly united. Oswy was recognized as the sole ruler, although nominally Deira for some time continued to be governed by representatives of its royal family. Strong royal power in the state was preserved even under Oswi’s son – Egfriede. But he no longer insisted that his country occupy a dominant position in the north of England. The peace and stability in the kingdom was enough for him. After his death Northumbria for one hundred and fifty years it became a place of constant internecine wars. As a result, there was not a single strong ruler in the kingdom who would rule on the throne for a long time.

Loss of independence

They took advantage of the country's difficult internal political situation Danish Vikings. They became the final factor in the destruction of the apparent unity of the Northumbrian state in 867. Their invasion cut short the political, cultural and economic development of the kingdom. Most significant achievement Danov, and Norwegians was the capture of the capital - the city York, and the southern part of the kingdom of Northumbria (formerly the kingdom of Deira), which allowed the Scandinavians to settle in the occupied territories for some time, forming Kingdom of York. It is interesting that in such a difficult foreign policy situation, as well as in the virtual absence of internal unity, the Angles did not stop trying to restore their rule. Only the northern regions of Northumbria (the former kingdom of Bernicia) managed this under the leadership of caretakers Bamburga. They held the post of jarl, but at the same time they were ethnically descended from the Angles. They were considered the first contenders for the royal throne, since they obtained this right from the Vikings, as well as the title of Supreme Wardens of Bamburgh.

Already at the beginning of the 10th century. The Danes strengthened their presence on the islands of Britain, beginning to seize them from the Irish coast. They placed their king on the throne and began to govern a “shortened” version of the state. But they were not allowed to gain a foothold here. Scots, who began to push back the Danes in the north. Because of this, both the northern and western regions came under the control of the Kingdom of Scotland.

In the 10th century, power in Northumbria changed hands between the Norwegian and English kings. In 954, after the death of its last independent monarch, the king Eric I of the Bloodaxe, kingdom Northumbria was eventually included England(as a separate county) by the English king Edred, who came from the Wessex dynasty. Simultaneously with these processes, the territory of the kingdom was subjected to systematic attacks by the Vikings. The advance of other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms did not stop the claims of the Northumbrian rulers. Formally, they were vassals of England, but retained the right to independence of action.

During the second wave of Scandinavian invasions, at the beginning of the 11th century, Northumbria came under the rule of the Anglo-Danish monarchy Canute the Great, which divided England into several large provinces ruled by their comrades. In 1016 at the head of the province Northumbria Danish Viking Erik Hlatir stood up. In 1042, with the death of Hardeknud, the era of the Danish kings in England ends. Hardecknut's reign was unpopular in England, marked by significant tax increases and growing popular discontent. In England, a strong public opinion in favor of the restoration of the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty is formed and, just a few days after the death of Hardecknut, the people of London proclaim Edward, later nicknamed the Confessor, the new king of England. Almost immediately, Edward was recognized by the whole country, including the earls and the Anglo-Danish nobility.

Edward the Confessor was the last representative of the Wessex dynasty on the English throne, whose rule significantly weakened the state. To his successor - Harold II Godwinson it was necessary to urgently restore the defense capability of the state, but there was no time for this

it wasn't enough anymore. On January 5, 1066, he became king of England, and already in September a huge Norwegian fleet approached the northeastern coast of the country. In the hardest battle of Stamford Bridge, England managed to defeat the Norwegians, and the king of Norway Harald the Harsh died in battle. The Norwegian invasion was prevented, and from that moment on the era of Viking raids came to an end, ending the 200-year history of confrontation between England and the Scandinavian world.

However, just 3 days later, the army of the Norman Duke landed on the southern coast of England. Wilhelm, who later received the nickname Conqueror. Without having time to qualitatively recover, battered and supplemented by poorly armed peasant militia, the Anglo-Saxon army takes a decisive battle with the Normans at Hastings, during which it suffers a complete defeat. Harold II Godwinson dies in battle, becoming the last Anglo-Saxon king in English history, and on December 25, 1066. Wilgelm the conqueror ascends the English throne; The Normans conquer the country. After a series of rebellions against the Normans, the county of Northumbria was finally abolished in 1095.

Nowadays, it has become more common to conduct archaeological excavations, constantly delighting historians with a wealth of discoveries and findings.

NORTHUMBRIA, Nor-thumbria (English Nor-thumbria, from Old English Norþanhymbra - “(land) to the north from the river Humber”) - historical region Last and Ang-lo-Saxon-ko-ro-lion-st-vo in the north of England (in the period of the most-colored-incl. also known as Southern Scotland).

The name “Northumbria” has been known since the beginning of the 8th century (it was first found in Beda Dos-to-poch-ten-no-go). The kingdom of Northumbria was formed in the 7th century in the re-zul-ta-te volume of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Dey -ra (see York-shire) and Ber-ni-tion (on the territory of the modern English counties of Da-rem and North Tamber-land and the Scottish counties of Berwick-shire and East -Lo-ti-an), arose in the 5th-6th centuries during the Ang-lo-sak-son war. Ethelf-rit from the ruling di-na-stia of Ber-ni-tion (about 592-616) was the first to achieve power over both of the ko-ro-lion-st -va-mi (about 605). He won a number of major victories over the Scots and Britons (Battle of Ches-ter around 616, etc.), but in 616 he was defeated on the river Idle king of East Anglia Red-val-dom, which re-gave the throne of Northumbria to the st-wi-te-lyu di-na-stia of Dey-ra Ed -vi-well (616-633). Ed-win accepted Christianity (627), entered into an alliance with the ko-ro-la-mi of Ken-ta. Thanks to the active war effort, he managed to expand his dominion to the north to Ad-ria-no- howling walls and west to the Irish Sea (including the islands of Man and England). The death of Ed-vi-na in the battle on Hat-fil-de (633) against the king of Mercia Pen-da and the pra-vi-te-la of the Briton. -ro-lion-st-va Gwi-ne-da Kad-val-lo-na led to the division of De-ra and Ber-ni-tion, but already in 634 Os- Wald, the son of Ethelf-rith, united all of Northumbria under his rule. He managed to turn Northumbria into a leading political power in Britain and contributed to further developments -stia-ni-za-tion of the country. After the gi-be-li Os-val-da (in the next-next-st-vii ka-no-ni-zi-ro-van as mu-che-nik) in the battle with Pen-da on Ma- zer-fel-de (642) Dei-ra again fought not-for-vi-si-mo-sti, but in 651 Os-vi, brother of Os-val-da (ruled in Ber -ni-tion since 642), window-cha-tel-but ob-e-di-nil both parts of Nor-tum-briya.

During the reign of Os-vi (651-670) and his son Eg-frida (670-685), Northumbria flourished. In 655 Os-vi in ​​the battle on the river. Vin-ved won the decisive victory over Penda and established control over Mercy (the final border between Northumbria and Mersi-ey there was a us-ta-nov-le-na in 679 along the Humber River). His supreme power was recognized by other Ang-lo-Saxon ko-ro-lev-st-va, as well as by the right-of-vi-te-li pic-tov, Scot-tov and northern Briton-tov. Egg-frid in 684 was the first of the Anglo-Saxon kings to lead a military expedition to Ireland. His death during the march against the Picts led to the establishment of Northumbria, which in the 8th - first half of the 9th century entered la during a period of internal instability (out of 14 kings who reigned between 705 and 806, 4 were killed, 6 - you overthrew, 2 - you freely renounced the throne).

At the same time, in Northumbria, the flourishing of cultural and intellectual life, which began one day, continued -men-but with christianity-nor-for-chi-her region. The first leading role in this process was played by Irl. mo-na-hi-mis-sio-ne-ry from mon. Io-na (see Ai-o-na), one-on-after the co-bo-ra in Whit-by (664), concluded the dispute about the time neither the celebration of Easter, the influence passed to the party, ori-en-ti-ro-vav-shay on close contacts with Ri- mom and Ken-ter-be-ri. In the monasteries of Lyn-dis-farn, Wear-mut-i-Yar-row, Ri-pon, Whit-by, as well as in the ca-federal councils of Yor -ka and Hek-se-ma arose bo-ga-te-shie bib-lio-te-ki, active-but de-st-vo-va-li creak-to-rii and school- ly. Works of Be-dy Do-sto-poch-ten-no-go, Al-kui-na and other nor-tum-Bri-sky av-to-rov de-mon-st-ri-ru-yut them wide-ro-kuyu era-di-tion, excellent knowledge of La-you-ni, co-chi-ne-niy of the ancient and early-non-Christian av -to-ditch. You-tsy from Northumbria played an important role at the initial stage of the “Ka-ro-ling-sko-go-ro-zh-de-niya”.

Since the end of the 8th century, na-be-gi vi-kin-gov in co-che-ta-nii with not-pre-kra-shav-shi-mi-sha uso-bi-tsa-mi brought to the glu -bo-ko-mu kri-zi-su in Northumbria. In 866, scan-di-na-you captured the hundred-li-tsu of Northumbria - York. In the re-zul-ta-te on the territory of modern Yorkshire, the Vi-king-co-lion-st-vo (part of Den-lo), the land to se-ve-ru from the river. Tees (modern Earl of Nor-tam-ber-land) co-church of the Ang-lo-Saxon pra-vi-te-li, acknowledging the tops - power of the scan-di-na-vov. In the middle of the 10th century, Northumbria became part of the united kingdom of England, but until the 12th century it retained its knowledge -reputable political auto-no-mia, legal and cultural one-of-its-kind.