EBK Activity Sheets

 



Two Saxon Kingdoms in the North


 
  • Traditionally, Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland were settled by a Saxon group called Anglians, from Angeln (South-West Denmark).
  • They set up two kingdoms:
    • Deira was a kingdom based in East Yorkshire. It is a British word meaning 'Land of the Water Dwellers' because they lived on the banks of the River Humber. The first king was a man named Aelle. He lived in the late 6th century. The kings lived in York. Their Royal monastery was at Whitby.
    • Bernicia was a kingdom based in Northumberland. Its name is the Saxon version of the British Kingdom of Bryneich. The first king was a man named Ida the Burner. He lived in the mid-6th century. The kings lived in Bamburgh. Their Royal monastery was at Lindisfarne.
  • The two kingdoms did not get on and there was a big war between them. Eventually the Deiran Royal family were all killed. The two kingdoms merged and became known as Northumbria.
  • The Kings of Northumbria lived at Yeavering, Bamburgh, York and Doncaster.
  • There were three very famous Kings of Northumbria: Edwin, Oswald & Oswiu.
  • Later, the Vikings took over many parts of Northumbria, especially Yorkshire.

 

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