7th century in England facts for kids

7th century in England

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The 7th century was a really important time for England. During these 100 years, many big changes happened, especially with the spread of Christianity and the way kingdoms were formed and fought. It was a time when different Anglo-Saxon kingdoms became stronger and started to look more like the England we know today.

Key Events in the 7th Century

The Spread of Christianity

• 601
  • The church in Canterbury became an Archbishopric, which means it was given more power and importance.
  • Important church leaders like Mellitus and Paulinus were sent to England by Pope Gregory I. They came to help Augustine spread the Christian faith.
• 604
  • Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, passed away. Laurence took his place.
  • The first Christian bishops for London (Mellitus) and Rochester (Justus) were appointed.
  • King Æthelberht of Kent helped start St Paul's Cathedral in London and supported Rochester Cathedral.
  • Sæbert, the new king of Essex, became Christian with help from his uncle, Æthelberht.
• 625
  • The famous Sutton Hoo ship burial, a very rich burial site, was placed in the ground around this time.
  • Paulinus became the first Bishop of York.
• 627
  • Paulinus helped convert the kingdoms of Northumbria and Lindsey to Christianity.
  • King Edwin of Northumbria was baptised on April 12. The first York Minster church was built for this event.
  • St Peter's School, York, a very old school, was founded and is still open today!
• 630
  • Eanswith, the daughter of King Eadbald of Kent, started the first nunnery (a place for nuns) in England at Folkestone Priory.
• 631
  • Felix of Burgundy and the monk Fursey helped convert the kingdom of East Anglia to Christianity.
• 634
  • Aidan founded a priory (a type of monastery) at Lindisfarne. He became a bishop there in 635.
• 635
  • Birinus, the first Bishop of Dorchester, began converting the kingdom of Wessex to Christianity. King Cynegils of Wessex was baptised around this time.
• 653
  • The monk Cedd helped spread Christianity in Mercia and Essex.
• 654
  • Bishop Cedd built the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall in Essex.
• 657
  • Hilda founded Whitby Abbey, a famous monastery.
• 660
  • The first Bishop of Winchester (Wine) was appointed.
• 661
  • King Wulfhere of Mercia conquered parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. He appointed Æthelwealh as king of Sussex, who was then baptised.
• 664
  • The Synod of Whitby was a big meeting where King Oswiu of Northumbria decided that his kingdom would follow the Christian customs of Rome, especially for calculating Easter.
  • Deusdedit, the Archbishop of Canterbury, passed away.
• 666
  • Earconwald started two important monasteries: Chertsey Abbey for men and Barking Abbey for women.
• 669
  • Theodore of Tarsus became the Archbishop of Canterbury and worked to organize the church in England.
  • Wilfrid became the Bishop of York.
• 676
  • The first Bishop of Hereford (Putta) was appointed.
  • A convent, which later became Bath Abbey, was founded.
• 680
  • Wilfrid helped convert the last pagan Saxon kingdom, Sussex, to Christianity.
  • The first Bishop of Worcester (Bosel) was appointed.
• 685
  • Cuthbert became the Bishop of Lindisfarne.
  • St Paul's Church at Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey was dedicated.
• 687
  • Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, passed away.
• 688
  • Cædwalla, a king of Wessex, was baptised in Rome but died soon after. Ine became the new king.
  • Glastonbury Abbey was re-founded.
• 690
  • Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, passed away. Berhtwald took his place.
• 694
  • King Ine of Wessex created new laws, including a rule that children must be baptised soon after they are born.
• 698
  • The creation of the famous Lindisfarne Gospels may have begun around this time.

Kingdoms and Battles

• 604
  • King Æthelfrith joined the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira to create the powerful Kingdom of Northumbria.
• 614
  • Kings Cynegils and Cwichelm of Wessex fought together and defeated the Welsh at Beandun.
• 616
  • King Æthelberht of Kent died, and his son Eadbald became king.
  • At the Battle of Chester, King Æthelfrith of Northumbria defeated Powys.
  • In the Battle of the River Idle, King Rædwald of East Anglia killed Æthelfrith of Northumbria and conquered the Kingdom of Elmet.
• 628
  • At the Battle of Cirencester, King Penda of Mercia defeated Wessex and took control of lands near the River Severn.
• 630
  • King Penda of Mercia attacked Exeter. He then formed an alliance with King Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd.
• 633
  • At the Battle of Hatfield Chase, forces from Gwynedd and Mercia attacked and defeated Northumbria.
• 634
  • At the Battle of Heavenfield, Northumbrian forces led by Oswald of Bernicia won a big victory against Gwynedd. Oswald reunited the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira.
• 638
  • King Oswald of Northumbria captured Edinburgh.
• 640
  • King Eadbald of Kent died, and his son Eorcenberht became king.
• 642
  • At the Battle of Maserfield, King Penda of Mercia killed Oswald of Northumbria. Oswald's brother Oswiu became king of Bernicia.
  • Cenwalh became King of Wessex.
• 645
  • King Cenwalh of Wessex was driven out of his kingdom by Penda of Mercia and went to live with King Anna of East Anglia.
• 648
  • Cenwalh of Wessex got his kingdom back.
• 651
  • King Oswiu of Bernicia fought King Oswine of Deira. Oswine was murdered by Oswiu's soldiers.
  • Œthelwald became king of Deira and allied with Oswiu's enemy, King Penda of Mercia.
• 652
  • Cenwalh of Wessex won a battle at Bradford-on-Avon.
• 653 or 654
  • At the Battle of Bulcamp, King Anna of East Anglia was killed by Penda of Mercia.
• 655
  • At the Battle of the Winwaed, King Oswiu of Bernicia killed King Penda of Mercia. This gave Oswiu control over all of Northumbria and Mercia.
  • Peada, Penda's son, became a client king (a king who rules but is controlled by another more powerful king) of Mercia.
• 656
  • Peada of Mercia was killed.
• 658
  • Three Mercian leaders rebelled against Northumbrian rule and made Wulfhere (Peada's brother) king of Mercia. He was the first Christian ruler of Mercia.
  • At the Battle of Peonnum, King Cenwalh of Wessex conquered Dorset and Somerset.
• 661
  • King Cenwalh of Wessex invaded Dumnonia (South West England) and pushed the Britons towards the coast.
• 670
  • Oswiu of Northumbria died. His son Ecgfrith became King of Bernicia, and his younger son Ælfwine became King of Deira.
• 672
  • King Ecgfrith of Northumbria defeated the Picts.
  • Cenwalh of Wessex died, and his wife Seaxburh became queen.
• 675
  • Wulfhere of Mercia died, and his brother Æthelred of Mercia became King of Mercia.
• 678
  • At the Battle of the River Trent, Mercia defeated an invasion from Northumbria.
• 681
  • Centwine of Wessex chased the Britons all the way to the sea.
• 684
  • King Ecgfrith of Northumbria led a military campaign in Ireland.
• 685
  • At the Battle of Dun Nechtain, the Picts killed Ecgfrith of Northumbria. This ended Saxon rule north of the River Forth.
  • King Cædwalla of Wessex took control of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight.
• 691
  • Wilfrid was sent away from Northumbria again, this time to Mercia.
• 695
  • The Law of Wihtred was issued in the Kingdom of Kent.

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