Treasures from the royals of long ago can stay

Sep 22 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Days of faith and blood

BY the mid-Sixth Century Anglo-Saxon ruling dynasties controlled the land north of the Tees – Bernicia – and south of the river, called Deira.

The grandson of King Ida of Bamburgh, Aethelfrith, conquered Deira but was later killed in battle in 616 by the deposed Deiran king, Edwin.

Now King of Northumbria and based at least part of the year at Ad Gefrin near Wooler, Edwin married a Kentish Christian princess Aethelburh.

As well as these power struggles, there was now a conflict between Roman and Celtic Christianity.

Edwin was killed in battle in 633 by the kings Penda of Mercia and Cadwalla of Wales, and Aethelburh and her chaplain Bishop Paulinus fled with the Northumbrian crown jewels.

Aethelfrith’s exiled son, Oswald, became the Christian King of Northumbria, defeating Cadwalla at the Battle of Heavenfield near Chollerford in Northumberland in 643 after erecting a wooden cross.