Northumbria facts for kids
The Kingdom of Northumbria was an important kingdom in the Middle Ages. It was located in what is now northern England and parts of south-east Scotland. The name "Northumbria" means "north of the Humber River." This river was the southern border of the kingdom. Later, it became an earldom within the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England.
The Story of Northumbria
Northumbria was created in the early 7th century. A powerful king named Athelfrith of Bernicia formed it. He was the King of Bernicia. Athelfrith conquered another kingdom called Deira. He also took over several British kingdoms. He then combined them all under his rule.
At its largest, Northumbria was a very big kingdom. It stretched from just south of the Humber River. It went all the way to the River Mersey and the Firth of Forth. This means it covered an area from roughly Sheffield to Runcorn to Edinburgh.
Northumbria was one of the main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. These kingdoms were sometimes called the Heptarchy, meaning "seven kingdoms." The name 'Northumbria' became common later. It was first used around the year 680. It comes from an old English phrase meaning "to the north of the Humber."
Even after William the Conqueror took over England, the name Northumbria was still used. Eventually, William divided the kingdom into smaller parts. The area that was once the heart of Northumbria became known as Yorkshire.
Northumbria Becomes an Earldom
Over time, Northumbria changed. The southern part of Northumbria, which was once Deira, was lost to the Danelaw. The Danelaw was an area ruled by Vikings. The northern part, Bernicia, was a kingdom for a short time. But under Danish rule, it also became an earldom. An earldom is a territory ruled by an earl, who is a powerful noble.
Some of this land was claimed by both England and Scotland. The Earldom of Northumbria officially became part of England. This happened with the Anglo-Scottish Treaty of York in 1237.
Today, the land that was once part of Northumbria is divided. It is now split into different modern areas:
- North East England includes the old Anglian Bernicia.
- Yorkshire and the Humber includes the old Anglian Deira. It also includes Celtic Elmet.
- North West England includes Cumbria.
- Parts of Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian cover the far north.
Images for kids
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LindisfarneFol27rIncipMatt.jpg
Page from the Lindisfarne Gospels, c. 700, featuring zoomorphic knot-work.
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The colophon to the Gospel of Matthew from the Durham Gospel Fragment, featuring non-zoomorphic interlace patterns.
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The Book of Kells, (folio 292r), c. 800, showing the lavishly decorated text that opens the Gospel of John
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Sword pommel from the Bedale Hoard, inlaid with gold foil.
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Gosforth Cross, view from the north west
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Copper alloy styca of King Osberht (YORYM 2001 3265) obverse
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See also
In Spanish: Reino de Northumbria para niños
