23 Facts About Aldfrith

Aldfrith is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning.

Aldfrith's reign was relatively peaceful, marred only by disputes with Bishop Wilfrid, a major figure in the early Northumbrian church.

Aldfrith was born on an uncertain date to Oswiu of Northumbria and an Irish princess named Fin.

Aldfrith was educated for a career in the church and became a scholar.

However, in 685, when Ecgfrith was killed at the battle of Nechtansmere, Aldfrith was recalled to Northumbria, reportedly from the Hebridean island of Iona, and became king.

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Aldfrith's reign saw the creation of works of Hiberno-Saxon art such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Codex Amiatinus, and is often seen as the start of Northumbria's golden age.

Aldfrith was a child of this marriage, but his date of birth is unrecorded.

Aldfrith was probably thus a cousin or nephew of the noted scholar Cenn Faelad mac Aillila, and perhaps a nephew of Bishop Finan of Lindisfarne.

Aldfrith had two full brothers: Alhfrith, who is not mentioned after 664, and Ælfwine, who was killed at the battle on the Trent in 679.

Ecgfrith's death threatened to break the hold of the descendants of Æthelfrith on Northumbria, but the scholar Aldfrith became king and the thrones of Bernicia and Deira remained united.

Aldfrith ruled both Bernicia and Deira throughout his reign, but the two parts remained distinct, and would again be divided by the Vikings in the late 9th century.

Aldfrith appears to have had the support of leading ecclesiastics, most notably his half-sister Ælfflæd and the highly respected Bishop Cuthbert.

Aldfrith is known to have received confirmation at the hands of Aldhelm, later the Bishop of Sherborne in the south-western Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex.

Aldfrith owned a manuscript on cosmography, which he purchased from Abbot Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow in exchange for an estate valued at eight hides.

Bede makes it clear that the church in Aldfrith's day was less subject to lay control of monasteries, a practice he dated from the time of Aldfrith's death.

Aldfrith inherited from Ecgfrith a troubled relationship with Wilfrid, a major ecclesiastical figure of the time.

When Wilfrid returned from exile the reconciliation with Aldfrith did not include Aldfrith's support for Wilfrid's attempts to recover his episcopal authority over the whole of the north.

In 702 or 703, Aldfrith convened a council at Austerfield, on the southern border of Northumbria, which was attended by Berhtwald, Archbishop of Canterbury, and many bishops.

Aldfrith responded by journeying to Rome, where he appealed in person to Pope John VI.

Aldfrith refused to receive the letters, and Wilfrid remained in disfavour.

Aldfrith's reign is considered the beginning of Northumbria's Golden Age, which lasted until the end of the 8th century.

Exceptionally for the period, Aldfrith's coins bear his name, rather than that of a moneyer, in an Irish uncial script.

Aldfrith was married to Cuthburh, sister of King Ine of Wessex; the marriage thus allied Aldfrith with one of the most powerful kings in Anglo-Saxon England.