6th century in England facts for kids

The 6th Century in England

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The 6th century (which means the years from 501 to 600 AD) was a very important time for England. After the Roman Empire left Britain, new groups of people, like the Angles and Saxons, started to settle and form their own kingdoms. This century saw many changes, including new kingdoms being created, big battles, and even the start of Christianity spreading across the land. It was a time when the map of England was constantly changing!

What Happened in the 6th Century?

New Kingdoms and Settlements

• Around 500 AD: The Angles, a group of people from what is now Germany and Denmark, began to settle along the coast of the North Sea and around the Humber river. They especially settled in an area called Holderness.
• 501 AD: A leader named Port and his sons, Bieda and Mægla, arrived at the place we now call Portsmouth.
• 519 AD: Cerdic started the Kingdom of Wessex. This kingdom would become very powerful later on.
• 527 AD: The Kingdom of Essex was founded.
• 547 AD: More Angles, led by a person named Ida, took over a Celtic area known as Bryneich. They then started the Kingdom of Bernicia.
• 560 AD: The Angles continued to expand! They took over eastern Yorkshire and a British kingdom called Ebrauc. From this, they created the Kingdom of Deira.
• 571 AD: The Kingdom of East Anglia was founded.
• 585 AD: The Kingdom of Mercia was started.

Big Events and Challenges

• 536 AD: There was a period of very bad weather, which likely caused a huge famine (a time when there isn't enough food). This led to a big drop in the number of people living in England.
• 549 AD: A serious disease, known as a great plague, spread across the land. It caused many people to die.
• 550 AD: A writer named Gildas finished his book called On the Destruction of Britain. This book tells us a lot about what happened in Britain after the Romans left.

Battles and Expanding Borders

• 571 AD: In the Battle of Bedcanford, a leader named Cuthwulf captured several towns, including Limbury, Aylesbury, Benson, and Eynsham.
• 577 AD: The Battle of Deorham took place. In this battle, Ceawlin of Wessex captured the cities of Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath from the British people. This helped his kingdom grow bigger towards the west.
• 581 AD: Ælla made the Kingdom of Deira even larger.
• 584 AD: The Battle of Fethanleag happened, possibly near Stoke Lyne in Oxfordshire. In this fight, Ceawlin and Cutha battled against the Britons. Sadly, Cutha was killed, and Ceawlin went back to his kingdom.
• 590 AD: A Celtic kingdom called Elmet joined forces with other Celtic kingdoms. They formed an alliance to fight against the Angles of Bernicia, who were expanding their territory.
• 590 AD: Urien of Rheged, a leader, was murdered.
• Around 600 AD: The Battle of Catraeth (possibly at Catterick, North Yorkshire) took place. In this battle, the kingdom of Northumbria defeated an attack from combined forces from Wales and Lothian.

The Arrival of Christianity

• 597 AD: A very important event happened! Augustine led a special mission from the Pope (the leader of the Catholic Church) to Britain. He helped convert the Kingdom of Kent to Christianity. Augustine became the first Bishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader. He also started the school that would become The King's School, Canterbury.
• 598 AD: This is the traditional year when St Augustine's Abbey was founded in Canterbury.
• Around 600 AD: This is a possible date for the founding of Repton Abbey, another important religious place.