The Kingdom of Northumbria (c. 604-954 CE) was a political entity in the north of modern-day Britain with Mercia directly to the south, the Kingdoms of the Welsh to the west, and the land of the Picts to the north; the eastern line of the kingdom was bordered by the sea. The region was originally divided between the two kingdoms of Bernicia (in the north) and Deira (south) but the people were referred to as Northumbrians, (meaning “those north of the Humber River”). These two kingdoms often fought against each other until they were united under the reign of Aethelfrith (r. 593-616 CE) but their rivalry would continually destabilize the region throughout its history.
More about: Kingdom of NorthumbriaDefinition
Timeline
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c. 547 - 599Reign of Ida the Flamethrower; first king and founder of settlement in the region.
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593 - 616Reign of Aethelfrith in Northumbria.
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c. 600Battle of Catraeth; Aethelfrith defeats the Britons, enlarges Northumbria. .
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c. 604 - 954Span of the Kingdom of Northumbria.
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c. 604Unification of Bernicia and Deira under Aethelfrith as Kingdom of Northumbria.
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616Battle of Chester; Aethelfrith defeats Welsh, expands kingdom.
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616Battle of Bawtry; Aethelfrith killed fighting East Anglia.
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616 - 633Reign of Edwin in Northumbria.
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626Battle of Win-and-Lose Hill; Edwin of Northumbria defeats forces of Wessex and Mercia.
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633Battle of Hatfield Chase; Northumbria collapses after defeat by Mercia.
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634 - 642Reign of Oswald in Northumbria.
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635Lindisfarne monastery in Northumbria is founded by the Irish missionary Aidan.
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642Battle of Maserfield; Northumbria defeated by Mercia, Oswald killed.
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642 - 670Reign of Oswiu in Northumbria.
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654Reunification of Northumbria under King Oswiu.
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655Battle of the Winwaed; Northumbria defeats Mercia.
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664Synod of Whitby; Oswiu of Northumbria decides in favor of Roman Catholicism over Celtic Christianity.
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c. 672 - 735Life of cleric and scholar Bede of Northumbria.
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c. 735 - 804Life of scholar and cleric Alcuin of York.
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c. 735 - c. 802Period of instability in Northumbria; over ten kings rule in quick succession.
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793Viking raid on Lindisfarne Monastery in Northumbria.
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829Wessex becomes overlord to Northumbria.
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866Great Heathen Army of the Vikings invades Northumbria.
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867Battle of York; Vikings defeat Northumbria.
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876 - 954Norse rule in Northumbria.
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946 - 955Reign of Eadred of Wessex, King of England; conquers Norse of Northumbria.
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952 - 954Reign of Eric Bloodaxe; last Norse king of Northumbria.
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954Norse driven out by Eadred of Wessex; Northumbria becomes part of England under Eadred.
