North Ages
@northages.bsky.social
Early medieval northern Britain, taking in Picts, Gaels, Britons, Angles and Norse. Feast days, on this day, place-names, archaeology news and book releases. Posts by Dundonian bookworm Craig. https://northages.wordpress.com/
Nov 30: Feast of Andrew (†c.60), apostle, martyr, patron saint of Scotland. He is said to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross. Cult universal by C6th. Hagustaldes ham (Hexham) and Cennrígmonaid (St Andrews) both dedicated to him in the C7/8th. St Rule’s Tower, St Andrews #medievalsky
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Nov 30: Feast of Andrew (†c.60), apostle, martyr, patron saint of Scotland. He is said to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross. Cult universal by C6th. Hagustaldes ham (Hexham) and Cennrígmonaid (St Andrews) both dedicated to him in the C7/8th. St Rule’s Tower, St Andrews #medievalsky
The C10th Castle Esplanade Hoard was discovered by workmen in Chester, Cheshire, #OTD in 1950. It comprised a small earthenware vessel filled with coins and silver bullion. 📸West Cheshire Museums #medievalsky
November 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The C10th Castle Esplanade Hoard was discovered by workmen in Chester, Cheshire, #OTD in 1950. It comprised a small earthenware vessel filled with coins and silver bullion. 📸West Cheshire Museums #medievalsky
Nov 29: Feast of Brénainn (Brendan), founder-abbot of Birra (Birr, Ireland) (†573). He intervened at a synod in Meath which ended Columba’s excommunication, and advised him to build his celebrated monastery on Iona. Also May 9. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Nov 29: Feast of Brénainn (Brendan), founder-abbot of Birra (Birr, Ireland) (†573). He intervened at a synod in Meath which ended Columba’s excommunication, and advised him to build his celebrated monastery on Iona. Also May 9. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky
Looking forward to seeing these twisted geniuses in Edinburgh tonight.
November 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Looking forward to seeing these twisted geniuses in Edinburgh tonight.
The C10th Huxley Hoard was discovered by detectorist Steve Reynoldson near Huxley, Cheshire, #OTD in 2004. The 22 items of Viking silver comprise 21 arm rings and one ingot. Fragments of lead suggest the hoard may have been wrapped in a sheet of the metal. 📸Museum of Liverpool #medievalsky
November 28, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The C10th Huxley Hoard was discovered by detectorist Steve Reynoldson near Huxley, Cheshire, #OTD in 2004. The 22 items of Viking silver comprise 21 arm rings and one ingot. Fragments of lead suggest the hoard may have been wrapped in a sheet of the metal. 📸Museum of Liverpool #medievalsky
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid, styled king of all Ireland in his obituary, died #OTD in 862. In 856, he had battled ‘heathens’ with the help of the Gallgoídil, ‘foreigner-Gaels’, a group thought to have been of mixed Scandinavian and Gaelic origin in both Scotland and Ireland. #medievalsky
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid, styled king of all Ireland in his obituary, died #OTD in 862. In 856, he had battled ‘heathens’ with the help of the Gallgoídil, ‘foreigner-Gaels’, a group thought to have been of mixed Scandinavian and Gaelic origin in both Scotland and Ireland. #medievalsky
An oak throne drawn from a Pictish cross-slab from Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, was unveiled in Edinburgh #OTD in 2009. National Museums Scotland and distillers Glenmorangie commissioned it. Master furniture maker Adrian McCurdy built it. Sculptor Barry Grove made the footstool. #medievalsky
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 AM
An oak throne drawn from a Pictish cross-slab from Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, was unveiled in Edinburgh #OTD in 2009. National Museums Scotland and distillers Glenmorangie commissioned it. Master furniture maker Adrian McCurdy built it. Sculptor Barry Grove made the footstool. #medievalsky
Máel Coluim (II) mac Cinaeda, king of Alba, died at Glamis, Angus, #OTD in 1034. He slew predecessor Cinaed (III) mac Duib at Monzievaird, Perthshire, in 1005, and, with Owain the Bald, king of Strat Clut (Strathclyde), crushed a Northumbrian army at the Battle of Carham in 1018. #medievalsky
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Máel Coluim (II) mac Cinaeda, king of Alba, died at Glamis, Angus, #OTD in 1034. He slew predecessor Cinaed (III) mac Duib at Monzievaird, Perthshire, in 1005, and, with Owain the Bald, king of Strat Clut (Strathclyde), crushed a Northumbrian army at the Battle of Carham in 1018. #medievalsky
Nov 24: Feast of Eanflæd (†c.704). Queen of the Northumbrians, then abbess of Streanæshalch (Whitby), which she ruled with daughter Ælfflæd. In thanks for her role at the synod in 664, Pope Vitalian sent a cross and golden key made from the fetters of SS Peter and Paul. #medievalsky
November 24, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Nov 24: Feast of Eanflæd (†c.704). Queen of the Northumbrians, then abbess of Streanæshalch (Whitby), which she ruled with daughter Ælfflæd. In thanks for her role at the synod in 664, Pope Vitalian sent a cross and golden key made from the fetters of SS Peter and Paul. #medievalsky
Eadred, king of the English, died #OTD in 955. Over the course of his reign, difficult relations with the north – Ripon Minster was torched and the Archbishop of York locked up – seemed to give way to mutual respect. Northumbria finally became a permanent part of England in 954. #medievalsky
November 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Eadred, king of the English, died #OTD in 955. Over the course of his reign, difficult relations with the north – Ripon Minster was torched and the Archbishop of York locked up – seemed to give way to mutual respect. Northumbria finally became a permanent part of England in 954. #medievalsky
Pope Sergius I consecrated Willibrord archbishop of the Frisians at the old church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome, #OTD in 695. He gave the Northumbrian missionary the Roman name Clemens. Early medieval Rome 📸Roberto Meneghini & Riccardo Santangeli Valenzani #medievalsky
November 21, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Pope Sergius I consecrated Willibrord archbishop of the Frisians at the old church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome, #OTD in 695. He gave the Northumbrian missionary the Roman name Clemens. Early medieval Rome 📸Roberto Meneghini & Riccardo Santangeli Valenzani #medievalsky
Áed Finnliath, king of Ailech and Tara, died #OTD in 879. He was survived by his wife Máel Muire, daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, former king of the Picts and Scots. Theirs is the only recorded marriage between an Irish king and a Pictish princess in the historical period. #medievalsky
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Áed Finnliath, king of Ailech and Tara, died #OTD in 879. He was survived by his wife Máel Muire, daughter of Cináed mac Ailpín, former king of the Picts and Scots. Theirs is the only recorded marriage between an Irish king and a Pictish princess in the historical period. #medievalsky
Ecgberht, bishop (732-5) and archbishop of York, died #OTD in 766. Brother of Northumbrian king Eadberht (737-58) and recipient of Bede’s letter of 734, which helped shape his reforms. He founded the school whose alumni included Alcuin. Ælberht succeeded him. 📸York Museums Trust #medievalsky
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Ecgberht, bishop (732-5) and archbishop of York, died #OTD in 766. Brother of Northumbrian king Eadberht (737-58) and recipient of Bede’s letter of 734, which helped shape his reforms. He founded the school whose alumni included Alcuin. Ælberht succeeded him. 📸York Museums Trust #medievalsky
Thomas I (of Bayeux), first Norman archbishop of York and founder of the Norman cathedral, died #OTD in 1100. He once claimed to have spent a night beside the tomb of St Cuthbert, where he had received a vision and been healed of his infirmities. 📸Paul Lakin #medievalsky
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Thomas I (of Bayeux), first Norman archbishop of York and founder of the Norman cathedral, died #OTD in 1100. He once claimed to have spent a night beside the tomb of St Cuthbert, where he had received a vision and been healed of his infirmities. 📸Paul Lakin #medievalsky
Nov 18: Feast of Fergus (C8th) ‘the Pict’, bishop. He founded churches across the north and east of Scotland, and may be the Fergustus episcopus Scotiae Pictus present at the Council of Rome in 721. He was buried at Glamis, Angus, his head later translated to Scone, Perthshire. #medievalsky
November 18, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Nov 18: Feast of Fergus (C8th) ‘the Pict’, bishop. He founded churches across the north and east of Scotland, and may be the Fergustus episcopus Scotiae Pictus present at the Council of Rome in 721. He was buried at Glamis, Angus, his head later translated to Scone, Perthshire. #medievalsky
Nov 17: Feast of Hild (c.614-680), abbess. She succeeded Heiu in charge of Heruteu (Hartlepool) before founding, or refounding, Streanæshalch (Whitby), where she championed the 'Irish' dating of Easter at the synod in 664. She later founded a monastery at Hacanos (Hackness). #medievalsky
November 17, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Nov 17: Feast of Hild (c.614-680), abbess. She succeeded Heiu in charge of Heruteu (Hartlepool) before founding, or refounding, Streanæshalch (Whitby), where she championed the 'Irish' dating of Easter at the synod in 664. She later founded a monastery at Hacanos (Hackness). #medievalsky
Nov 16: Feast of Margaret of Scotland (†1093). English noble who married Máel Coluim III, king of Alba. Church reformer and friend to the poor who founded a free ferry across the Firth of Forth for pilgrims heading to Cennrígmonaid (St Andrews). Her pocket gospel-book survives. #medievalsky
November 16, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Nov 16: Feast of Margaret of Scotland (†1093). English noble who married Máel Coluim III, king of Alba. Church reformer and friend to the poor who founded a free ferry across the Firth of Forth for pilgrims heading to Cennrígmonaid (St Andrews). Her pocket gospel-book survives. #medievalsky
Siward of Northumbria was among the earls who joined Edward the Confessor when the king rode from Gloucester to Winchester to confront his mother Emma #OTD in 1043. Edward deprived her of lands and movables, reportedly because of how she had treated him as a boy. #medievalsky
November 16, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Siward of Northumbria was among the earls who joined Edward the Confessor when the king rode from Gloucester to Winchester to confront his mother Emma #OTD in 1043. Edward deprived her of lands and movables, reportedly because of how she had treated him as a boy. #medievalsky
Oswiu, king of Bernicia, defeated and slew Penda, pagan king of the Mercians, at the Battle of Winwæd, in the district of Loidis (Leeds), #OTD in 655. Oethelwald, king of Deira, had refused to help his northern uncle and was soon replaced by Oswiu’s son Alhfrith. #medievalsky
November 15, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Oswiu, king of Bernicia, defeated and slew Penda, pagan king of the Mercians, at the Battle of Winwæd, in the district of Loidis (Leeds), #OTD in 655. Oethelwald, king of Deira, had refused to help his northern uncle and was soon replaced by Oswiu’s son Alhfrith. #medievalsky
Máel Coluim III, king of Alba, his son Edward and many other Scots were slain in a Norman ambush beside the river Aln #OTD in 1093. Morel, castellan of Bebbanburg (Bamburgh), reportedly killed the ruler. A heartbroken Queen Margaret died just three days later. 📸Bodleian Library #medievalsky
November 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Máel Coluim III, king of Alba, his son Edward and many other Scots were slain in a Norman ambush beside the river Aln #OTD in 1093. Morel, castellan of Bebbanburg (Bamburgh), reportedly killed the ruler. A heartbroken Queen Margaret died just three days later. 📸Bodleian Library #medievalsky
Æthelred II, king of the English, convinced of a plot to assassinate him, ordered the deaths of all Danish men within his realm #OTD in 1002. What followed became known as the St Brice’s Day massacre. #medievalsky
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Æthelred II, king of the English, convinced of a plot to assassinate him, ordered the deaths of all Danish men within his realm #OTD in 1002. What followed became known as the St Brice’s Day massacre. #medievalsky
Pope Leo XIII declared Bede a Doctor of the Church, and made official and universal the title of Saint #OTD in 1899. May 27 was set as his feast day. #medievalsky
November 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Pope Leo XIII declared Bede a Doctor of the Church, and made official and universal the title of Saint #OTD in 1899. May 27 was set as his feast day. #medievalsky