The Anglo-Saxon Age, AD c600-800
This timeline derives from various sources as indicated in the enteries The most common sources are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (ASC), Annales Cambriae (AC), Bede's Ecclesiatical History of the English People (Bede ), Historia Brittonum (HB), Annales of Ulster (AU) and Annales of Tigernach (AT) .
Date (AD) Remarks
c600-605--Aethylric, King of Deiria.
600--Death of St. Baithene, Abbot of Iona.
601--"In this year pope Gregory sent the pallium to archbishop Augustine in Britain, and very many religious teachers to help him, and Bishop Paulinus [who] converted Edwin, king of Northumbria, to christainity."ASC
603-- "In this year Aedan, king of the Irish [in West Scotland], fought against Deolreda and against AEthylfrith, king of Norhtumbria, at Daegsanstan; and almost all his host was slain. There Theodbald, AEthylfrith's brother, was slain with all of his retinue. Thereafter no king of the Scots dared lead a host against this nation. Hering, son of Hussa, led the host thither."[ASC]
c603--Synod of Augustine's Oak on the Severn between Hwicce and Wessex where the British refuse to meet Augustine's demands. [Bede] It was followed the next year with a synod at Bangor.
604--"The synod of Urds Legionis [ie. Chester/Bangor with Augustine?]. Gregory died in Christ and also bishop David of Moni Iudeorum."AC, 601 (moved to match Pope Gregory's death) ; "In this year Augustine consecrated two bishops, Mellitus and Justus. He sent mellitus to preach Christainity to the East Saxons; there the king was called Saeberht, son of Ricole, Aethelberht's sister, whom AEthelberht appointed king. AEtheylberht gave Mellitus an episopal see in London, and to Justus a see in Rochester which is twenty-four miles from Canterbury."ASC.
605-- Aethylfrith unites Bernicia and Deiria to form Northumbria, Edwin, son of Aelle, goes into exile. Oswald son of Aethylfrith and Acha, daughter of Ælle of Deiria, is born.
605-623--Fergna, Abbot of Iona
608--"The death of Aidan son of Gabran."AC,607; "In this year Coelwulf [of Wessex] fought against the South Saxons."ASC
611--"In this year Cynegils succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex and ruled thirty one years." ASC
612 -"The death of Kentigern and bishop of Dyfrig."AC Ryderch Hael and Mryddin Wyllt are said to have died in the same year as Kentigern.
613--"The battle of Caer Legion [ie Chester] and there died Selyf son of Cynan. And Iago son of Beli slept [ie died]. "AC The battle was fought between the men of Powys and Aethylfirth of Northumbria. The monks of Bangor who came to pray for the Britons, protected by a Brochmeal, were massacred by Aethylfrith of Northumbira. Brochmeal and 50 men escaped.
614--"In this year Cyngelis and Cwichelm [of Wessex] fought at Beandun, and slew two thousand and sixty five Welsh."ASC
c614--Hereric, grandson of King Aelle of Deira and nephew of Edwin, dies of poisen during his exile at Ceredig of Elmet's court while his wife is pregnant with Hild. [Bede]
616--"In this year AEthelberht, king of Kent, passed away; he regined fifty six years. [ rect. he was 56 years old ] After him his son Eadbald succeeded to the kingdom, who abandoned Christainity and followed heathen custom, having his fathers widow to wife....he was converted and baptised (rebaptised).... At this time the people of London, where Mellitus had been, were heathen." [ASC] (Bede dates Æthelberht's death to 606!]
617--"In this year, Aethylfirth, King of Northumbria, was slain by Raedwald, King of East Anglia, and Edwin, son of Aelle, succeeded to the Kingdom and conquored all of Britain, except Kent alone, and drove out the princes, the sons of Aethylfrith: the eldest was Eanfrith, [then] Oswald, Oswy, Oslac, Oswudu, Oslaf and Offa." (ASC) [Eanfrith took refuge with the Picts; Oswald , Oswy and their sister Ebba went to Iona.]; "Ceredig [of Elmet?] die"AC, 616
618 --St. Donnan and his followers are massacred on Eigg.
c620-3--Death of Raedwald of East Anglia and Bretwalda. The Bretwaldaship passes to Edwin of Northumbria.
623-652--Seigne, Abbot of Iona
624-- Bishop Mellitus of Canterbury dies. (ASC)
626 -Bishop Justus of Canterbury consecrated Paulinus bishop [of York] on July 21. (ASC; Bede, 626); "In this year, Eomer came from Cwilchelm, King of Wessex: he meant to stab King Edwin, but stabbed Lilla, his thane, and Forthere, and wounded the king. The same night a daughter was born to Edwin, who was called Eanfled. Then the king promised to Paulinus to give his daughter to God, if he by his prayers would obtian from God that he might overthrow his enemy who had sent assasins there. And he went to Wessex with the levies and slew five kings there and killed a great number of people. And Paulinus baptised his daughter on Whit Sunday and eleven others, ... Penda succeeded to the kingdom [Mercia] and reigned 30 years...." ASC
627 -"Belin dies"(AC, King Beli of Strathclyde c612?-627? or Belin of Llyn from the triads). ; Edwin is baptised by Paulinus in York (ASC)/ Rhun ap Urien. (AC); Boniface is elevated to be Pope. (ASC) Archbishop Justus of Canterbury died and Honorius was consecrated by Paulinus in Lincoln. (ASC)
c626-9--War between Edwin of Northumbria and Cadwallon of Gwynedd in which Cadwallon is forced into exile in Ireland. If the triads are correct about a 7 year exile (which may be peotic exaggeration), it began c626/7.
628--"In this year, Cynegils and Cwichelm fought Penda at Cirencester, and they came to terms."ASC
629--"The besieging of King Cadwallon in the island of Glannauc."AC - Part of a prolonged war between Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Edwin of Northumbria. Cadwallon is forced into exile in Ireland where he organizes the alliance of British, Irish, and Angles (Mericans) that defeats Edwin in 633/4. The triads say he was in Ireland seven years but may be probably poetic licence.
c630--Marriage of Oswy son of Aethlyfrith and Reinmellt daughter of Royth son of Rhun son of Urien of Reged while Oswy is in exile on Iona.
c632--Cadwallon returns to Britian from Ireland with a coalition of troops from Wales, Mercia, and perhaps Ireland. Cadwallon begins a long war that culminates at Hatfield Chase in 663 with the death of Edwin
632--Eorpwald is baptised. (ASC); "The slaughter of the (river) Severn and the death of Idris."AC; part of the war between Edwin and Cadwallon.
c632--Eorpwald of East Anglia is rebaptised and then murdered by a usurper. The usurper reinged in East Anglia for 3 years. Edwin looses the support of East Anglia.[Kirby]
633--King Edwin of Northumbria and his son Osfrith is slain by Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia at Hatfield Chase on October 14. Cadwallon and Penda then ravage Northumbria. Bishop Paulinus took Edwins widow Aethylburgh and his young children to her brother King Eadbald in Kent. Paulinus became bishop of Rochester. (ASC); "Gwyddgar comes and does not return. On the Kelends of January the battle of Meigen; and there Edwin was killed with his two sons; but Cadwallon was the victor." AC( This is dated 630 in the AC); Edwin's second son was captured by Penda and executed.[Bede]
633--Osric, a christain, son of Aelfric, Edwin's paturanal uncle became king of Deiria and Eanfrith, son of Aethylfrith, became King of Bernicia. Birinus came to Wessex under King Cynegils and preached. [ASC] Both revert from their christain faith and become pagans again. As a result, the Anglian church wiped their reigns from the chronicles and gave them to King Oswald who began his reign in 534/5.
634--Cadwallon rules Northumbria for a year. Oswald, son of Aethylfrith, leaves Iona and marches south, killing Cadwallon at Heaven's Field, becoming king of all Norhtumbria. (Bede); "The battle of Cantscaul (Denisburna, near Hexham) in which Cadwallon fell"(AC,631) ; "Burning of Bangor"[by Oswald?]- Irish Annales and AC[triad's "Action at Bangor Orchard"?]
c634/5--Sigiberht, step-son of Raedwald, becomes co-king of East Anglia with Raedwald's nephew Ecgric. Soon after Sigiberht abdicates and retires to a monastary. [Kirby]
635--Cynegils of Wessex is baptised by St. Birinus at Dorcester, King Oswald of Northumbria was his sponsor.(ASC); King of Merioneth killed on the Severn.; Mission from Iona is requested by Oswald for Northumbria.
636--Cwilchelm of Wessex is baptised and died the same year. Bishop Felix began preaching in East Anglia. (ASC)
c636/7--St. Aidan founds the monastary of Lindisfarne for the mission of Iona in Northumbria.
638--Obsidio Eten (AU, Caer Eden falls to the Angles or Picts)
639--Cuthried of Wessex is baptised by St. Birinus at Dorcester.(ASC)
642--Oswald of Northumbria is slain by Penda of Mercia at Maserfield/ Maes Cocboy/ Bellum Cocboy (Oswestry) and was buried at Bardney. Cenwalh, son of Cynegils, becimes king of Wessex and ruled for 21 years. He orders the church at Winchester to be built. Oswy became King of Northumbria and reigned 28 years.(ASC); "The battle of Cogfry in which Oswald, King of the Northmen, and Eawa king of the Mercians fell."(AC, 644); Eadbald of Kent dies. Eorcenbert, son of Eadbald, becomes king of Kent.[Kirby]
642-655--Penda of Mercia is the effective Bretwalda.
642--"I saw an array that came from Kintyre, who brought themselves as a sacrifice to the holocaust. I saw a second [array] who had come down from their settlement, who had been roused by the grandson of Neithon [Owein mac Beli of Strathclyde]. I saw mighty men who came with [the] dawn. And it was Domnall Brecc's head that ravens gnawed." The Battle of Strathcarron. [Gododdin, B1.1, Koch, 1997]
644--Bishop Paulinus died at Rochester. Oswine, son of Osric, becomes king of the Deirians and reigned 7years. (ASC); Oswy became king of northern Northumbria in 640 but Penda probably retianed control of southern Northumbria until 644. Oswine may have come to the throne with the permission of Penda.
c644--Oswy of Northumbria marries Eanflaed daughter of Edwin in an effort to unite Dieria and Bernicia into Northumbria.
645--Cenwalh is expelled form Wessex by Penda for putting aside his sister to remarry. (ASC; Bede, 644); "The hammering of Dyfed, when the monastary of David was burnt" AC
646--Cenwalh is baptised. (ASC) in East Anglia.
648--Cenwalh gives his kinsman Eadred land in Ashdown.(ASC)
649--Agilbert of Gaul [a Frank] succeeds St. Birinus at Dorcester. (ASC); "The slaughter of Gwent"AC
650/1 --Oswy orders the murder of Oswine in August 20th and Bishop Aidan dies on August 31st. Oswy becomes king of Northumbria.
651/2 --Middle Angles (Mercians) under Peada, the ealdorman, son of Penda, become christain. (ASC) Peada married Alchflæd, daughter of Oswy.
653--King Anna of East Anglia is killed by Penda. Archbishop Honorius dies on October 30. (ASC)
654--Oswy of Northumbria kills Penda of Mercia at Winwidfeld and 30 princes and kings with him, including Aethelhere, brother of King Anna of East Anglia. Peada, son of Penda, becomes (of part of ) King of Mercia. Oswy and Peada together found the monastary of Medeshamstede (Peterbourgh).(ASC); 'Penda killed.'(AC, 657)
655--March 26, Bishop Ithamu consecrated Deudedit at Canterbury.
656--King Peada of Merica is killed after being betrayed by his wife. Mercia is ruled by Oswy's agents. ; "The slaughter of Campius Gaius"AC.
656-60--Tallorcen son of Eanfrith son of Aethylfrith, King of Picts.
657-669--Cummene the white, Abbot of Iona
658--Cenwealh returns to the throne of the Gewisse form exile and fights the Welsh [under Cadwalder of Gwynedd?] at Penselwood, driving them to Parret.(ASC); "Oswy came [to Wales] and took plunder"AC
659--Mercians revolt and place Wulfhere, son of Penda on the throne of Mercia. [Bede?]
660--Bishop Agilbert leaves Wessex and becomes bishop of Paris; Wine becomes bishop of Wessex for 3 years.(ASC)
c670--Tribal Hinge compiled ... Listing the holdings and size of the Mercian and subject kingdoms which included the Isle of Wight, Wessex, Sussex, Elmet, and the western part of Powys around Wroxter and Lichfield. (Dumnvile, 1989)
661--Cenwalh of Wessex fights the British? at Pesentesburgh? and Wulfhere of Mercia ravaged Ashdown. Cuthred, son of Cwilchelm, and King Coernberht died. Wulfhere ravaged the Isle of Wight and gave it to Aethelwald, King of the South Saxons. Wulfhere stood sponsor for him. Plague ravages Britain. They brought christianity to the Isle of Wight. (ASC); "Cummine the tall [died]"AC [Abbot of Iona]
664-- Bishop Tude and Eorcenbert of Kent died in the plague. Egbert son of Eorcenbert becomes king of Kent. (ASC); Synod of Whitby between the Roman and Celtic church. Lindisfarne turns from the celtic church and adopts Roman customs.;"Bishop Colman (of Lindisfarne) returned to his own land (Iona) with the Irish. A plague came. Chad and Wilfred were conscrated Bishops of the Northumbrians." [Bede ]
665--"The first celebration of Easter amoung the Saxons. The second battle of Badon. Morgan dies." AC; Egbert of Kent abolishes pagan worship and mandates the observance of Lent.
668--Theodore becomes Archbishop of Britain (ASC)
669/70--"Oswy, King of the Saxons, dies" AC, 669; ASC, 670. Ecgfrith becomes king of Northumbria.
672--Cenwalh of Wessex dies. Queen Saexburgh, rules for one year.
673--Egbert, King of Kent dies. Theodore calls for the synod of Hertford. St. Aethylthryth founds the monastary of Ely. (ASC)
674--Aescwine becomes King of Wessex. (ASC)Battle between Northurmbria and Mercia over Lindsey (see Eddius Stephanus?)
675--Wulfhere, King of Mercia and Aescwine, King of Wessex fight at Bedanheafod. Wulfhere died later in the year and was succeeded by his brother Aethylred. (ASC)
676--Aescwine dies and is succeeded by Centwine in Wessex. Aethylred of Kent(of Wessex) 'over ran' Kent. (ASC)
678--Bishop Wilfred is expelled form the see of York; he is replaced by Bishop Bosa in Deiria and Bishop Eata in Bernicia. Eadhed became the first Bishop of Lindsey. (ASC)
679-704--Adomnan, Abbot of Iona
679--Aelfwine was slain at the River Trent where Ecgfirth and Aethlyred fought. St. Aethylthryth dies and Coldingham burns. (ASC)
680--"A synod wsa held in the plain of Hatfield under the presidency of Archbishop Theodore to affirm the catholic faith: John, an abbott from Rome, attended. Abbess Hilda died at Stranæshalach." [Bede ]
681--Pictish King Bruide son of Derleli? ravaged the Orkney's.(AU); Bendict Biscop founds the monastary of Jarrow in Northumbria.
682--"Centwine drove the Britons as far as the sea"(ASC)
682--British invade Antrim, North Ireland and defeat the Dal nAridid Cruithin at the battelf of Raith Mor Maige Line (Rathmore, East Antrim). A British prince Merfyn is killed on the Isle of Man. (Byren and Doherty, 1982)
c682-725 --British raiders and mercenaries begin to appear in Ireland. (see Irish Chronicle)
684--Ecgfrith of Northumbria orders hsi Ealdorman Berht to attack Brega, Ireland.(ASC)
685--King Ecgfrith and Archbishop Theodore consecreate Cuthbert Bishop of Hexham. Caedwalla began to contend for the throne of Wessx. Hlothhere, King of Kent dies. (ASC)Ecgrith invades the Picts and dies at Nechtansmere. Bruide mac Beli becomes Pictish High King is the victor. Aldfrith, son of Oswy and Fina becomes king.
685-705 --Aldfrith , King of Northumbria.
686--Adomnan visits Aldfrith of Northumbria and ransoms Irish captives from the invasion of Brega in 684; Adomnan dedicates his De locis sanctis to Aldfrith
686--Caedwalla and his brother Mull laid (Jutish) Kent to waste. (ASC)
687--Pepin becomes the mayor of ht palace of all Francia after the battle of Tertry; Carolinian era begins in ernest
686/7--Cædwalla of the Gewisse annexes the Jutish territory of Meon and the Isle of Wight forming the Kingdom of the West Saxons.
687--Mull of Wessex and 12 thanes were burned alive in Kent. Ceadwalla laid Kent waste again. (ASC)
688--Caedwalla of Wessex went to Rome and was baptised by Poep Sergius. He died a week later in Rome. Ine, brother of Caedwalla, succeeded to the throne of Wessex. (ASC)
688-692--Adomnan writes Life of St. Columba
690--Archbishop Theodore dies and is buried at Canterbury. (ASC)
692--Berhtwald elected the first English Archbishop of Britain and was consecrated the next year. Wihtred and Waebhlard?, Co-Kings of Kent.(ASC)
693--Berthelm (Drhthelm) died, a hermit on the Tweed River. (ASC)
694--Kent gave Ine of Wessex '30 thousands' weregeld for the death of Mull. Wihtred becomes King of Kent. (ASC)
696--Britons and the Ulaid ravage Mug Muirthemne (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)
697--Osthryth, Queen of Aethylred of Mercia, sister of Ecgfrith of Northumbria is slain by the Mercians. (ASC)
699--Northumbrian Ealdorman Beorht is slain by the Picts. (ASC)
702--Aethylred of Mercia retires and Coenred succeeds him as king.(ASC)British raiders kill King Irgalach ua Conaing of Brega at Ireland's Eye. (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)
704 --Death of Adomnan of Iona. (AC) Aethylred, son of Penda, becomes a monk. (ASC)
705--On December 14, King Aldfrith dies at Driffeld?. Osred his son becomes King but the succession is challenged.
709--Ceolred becomes King of Wessex. Bishop Wilfred dies at Oundle and is buried at Rippon. (ASC) Death of Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne and Abbot of Malmesbury. (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)
710--Acca, Wilfred's chaplin succeeds him as bishop. Beorhtfrith fought the Picts between the RIvers Avon and Carron. Ine of Wessex fought Geraint, King of Britons [Dumnonia]. Hygebald was killed the same year. (ASC; Bede, 711)
c710--Nechtan, King of Picts, accepts Roman Easter. (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)
711--Dalriada defeats the British (of Strathclyde?) at Loch Arklet near Loch Lomond. (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)
714--St. Guthlac dies (ASC)
716--Osred of Northumbria is killed in Mercian territory. Coenred succeeded to Northumbria. Coelred of Mercia is buried at Lichfield and Aethylred of Mercia is buried at Bardney. Aethylbald succeeded to Mercia. Egbert of Iona converts Iona to Roman practice. (ASC)
717--Irish monks are forced to leave Pictland under the orders of King Nechtan.
722--"Beli son of Elffin[King of Strathclyde] dies. And the Battle of Hehil(?) among the Cornish, the battle of Garth Maelog, the battle of Peneron(?) amoung the south Britons, and the Britons were victors in these three battles." AC; Queen Aethylburh of Merica destroyed Tauton built by Ine. Ealdberht exiled into Sussex and Surry. (ASC)
725--Wihtred King of Kent died. Ine fought the South Saxons and killed exiled prince Ealdberht. (ASC)
726--Ine of Wessex dies and is succeeded by Aethylheard, his kinsman.(ASC)
728 --"The battle of Mount Carno" AC
729--Osric of Northumbria and St. Eghbert of Iona die. Coelwulf becomes king of Northumbria.
730--Prince Oswald dies. (ASC)
731--Archbishop Berhtwald dies and is succeeded by Tatwine. (ASC)
732--Bede composes his Ecclesiatical History of the English People
733--Aethylbald captures Somerton. (ASC)
734-43--Dalriada is reduced by King Oengus mac Forgusso of Pictland. (Byrne and Doherty, 1982)-
734/5--"The moon was as if suffused with blood, and Archbishop Tatwin passed away and also Bede; and Egbert was conscrated Bishop." (ASC)
736--Oengus King of Picts died. AC
737--Aethlywald Bishop of Lindisfarne who bound and pressed the Lindisfarne Gospels and King Coelwulf of Northumbria.
750--"Battle between the Picts and Britons, that is the battle of Mocctaue(?). And their king Talorgan is killed by the Britions. Tewdwr son of Beli dies." AC Tewder son of Beli was King of Strathclyde. His death must have been some time after the battle.
754--"Rhodri King of the Britons dies." AC
755--Æthelbald of Mercia is murdered and buried at Repton.(ASC; AC, 757)
760--"A battle between the Britons and the Saxons, that is the battle of Hereford and Dyfnwal son of Tewdwr[King of Strathclyde] dies."AC
768--"Easter is changed among the Britions on the Lords day, Elfoddw, the servant of God, emending it." AC
772-801--Bresal, Abbot of Iona.
775--"Ffernfael son of Ithael dies" AC
776--"Cinaed [Kenneth] King of Picts dies" AC
777--"Abbot Cuthbert dies"AC
778--"Devistation of the South Britons by Offa" AC
784--"Devistation of Britain by Offa in the summer" AC
793--Vikings attack Lindisfarne.