Lindsey (kingdom) facts for kids
The Kingdom of Lindsey was an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is now Lincolnshire, England. When the Romans conquered Britain, this area was part of the land belonging to the Corieltauvi tribe. Lindsey was a smaller Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It was often fought over by two bigger kingdoms: Northumbria and Mercia. Lindsey stopped being an independent kingdom during the time of King Offa of Mercia.
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Where Was Lindsey?
Lindsey was located between several important waterways. To the north was the River Humber. The River Witham was to the south. The North Sea formed its eastern border. To the west was the River Trent.
A Roman canal called Foss Dyke connected the River Witham and the River Trent. This canal was on Lindsey's southwestern edge. West of Lindsey was also Hatfield Chase, a low area with many marshes. Because it was almost completely surrounded by water, many people believed Lindsey was an island.
A Look at Lindsey's History
The name Lindsey comes from an old British word, Lindissi. This shows that even though it was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, many Celtic people lived there. For some time, Lindsey might have been an independent kingdom with its own Celtic rulers.
Lindsey's control changed hands often:
- From about 620 to 658, Northumbria controlled Lindsey.
- Then, from about 658 to 675, Mercia took control.
- Northumbria ruled again from about 675 to 679.
- Finally, in 679, Mercia took over for good. After this, Lindsey's kings became less powerful. They were called Ealdormen instead of kings.
Christianity Comes to Lindsey
The Christian religion began to spread in Lindsey around 631. Paulinus was an early missionary. Later, Bishop Wilfrid became the bishop for Northumbria, which included Lindsey, in 665.
In 678, Wilfrid was sent away from Northumbria. His church area, called a diocese, was then divided. Archbishop Theodore made Lindsey its own separate diocese. It had its own bishop. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that Eadhed was the first bishop of Lindsey in 678.
In the 9th century, the Danes (Vikings) settled in Lindsey. This event marked the end of the diocese of Lindsey.
Hatfield: A Nearby Area
Haethfieldlande, or Hatfield, was another small Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is mentioned in an old list called the Tribal Hidage. We don't know much about Hatfield or its kings. Unlike Lindsey, Hatfield's name is Anglo-Saxon.
According to the Tribal Hidage, Hatfield-land later joined with Lindsey. It became known as Hatfield Chase. This area is now part of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Hatfield was also a royal home for some kings of Northumbria. King Edwin of Northumbria was killed there in a battle in 633.
Kings of Lindsey
We know about the kings of Lindsey from a collection of old family trees and king lists. This collection is called the Anglian collection. It was put together around the time of King Alhred of Northumbria (765-774).
The list of kings for Lindsey begins with these names:
- Critta (Crida) - Thought to have ruled in the 580s.
- Cueldgils
- Caedbaed - Likely ruled around 625.
- Bubba
- Beda
- Biscop
- Eanfruth
- Eatta
- Aldfrith - Thought to have ruled around 775. He is the last king of Lindsey recorded.
The exact dates for these kings are not certain.
