North of the Humber Trivia Game | European

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1. Allthough Deira was the older of the two Anglian kingdoms to the north of the Humber, the first to be noted in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle was that of Bernicia. Ida captured and restored the fortress that was later to be known as Bamburgh. But what originally was the name of this fortress?

Answer: Din Guairi

Din Guairi (fort of the Guairi) was the Brythonic name of this fortress. Ida is said to have built the fortress, which was first enclosed by a hedge and then a wall (probably a stockade and rampart) in 547, however it had been a fortified site long before the arrival of Ida, and would not be known by an Anglo-Saxon name until the time of Aethelfrith (Ida's grandson), who named it Bebbanburh after his first wife Bebba.

2. Little is known about Deira before the reign of Aelle. However the 'Historia Brittonum' includes a genealogy of the kings of Deira, which notes a chieftain responsible for the begining of the kingdom. Who is this chieftain?

Answer: Soemil

The list in the Historia Brittonum records, "Soemil Who first separated Deur (Deifr/Deira) from Berneich (Bryneich/Bernicia)". He would have been the great-great-great grandfather of Aelle. This would place the independence of Deira around the mid 5th century, precisely the time of the revolt of foederati against their Romano-British employers.

3. In historical terms, he was considered as the first king of a united Northumbria. Bede compared him to Saul king of the Israelits. Who was this pagan king of Bernicia and, later king of Northumbria ?

Answer: Aethelfrith

Aethelfrith came to power in Bernicia c. 593 and also became king of Deira c. 604. Bede stated that he "ravaged the Britons more than all the great men of the English, insomuch that he might be compared to Saul, once king of the Israelites, excepting only this, that he was ignorant of the true religion. For he conquered more territories from the Britons, either making them tributary, or driving the inhabitants clean out, and planting English in their places, than any other king or tribune."

4. Aedan mac Gabran, the Irish king of Dalriada threatened by Aethelfrith's growing power, led a great army against Aethelfrith, and allthough inferior in numbers, Aethelfrith defeated him in which battle of 603?

Answer: Degsastan

At Degsastan (Degsa's stone), thought to have been along the Dawston Burn (river) in Liddesdale, Aedan fled with a few survivors but most of his army was killed, it was a costly victory for Aethelfrith as his brother Theobald was killed along with all the host which he commanded. Bede also stated that "And from that time to the present day, no Irish king in Britain has dared to do battle with the English".

5. A battle fought c. 616, which was seen by Bede as divine retribution for the Welsh bishops having refused to submit to St Augustine and accept the authority of Rome and recant their heretical adherence to the calendar of the Celtic church. St Augustine had prophesied, "If they do not have peace with us, they will die at the hands of the Saxons." Which battle was it?

Answer: Chester

In c. 616 Aethelfrith defeated the army of Powys and killed king Selyf at the Battle of Chester. Bede records that a large number of monks from Bangor on Dee "resorted ... to pray at the battle ... King Aethelfrith being informed of this, ...said, "If then they cry to their God against us, in truth, though they do not bear arms, yet they fight against us, because they oppose us by their prayers." He, therefore, commanded them to be attacked first. About twelve hundred of those that came to pray are said to have been killed".

6. When Aethelfrith seized power in Deira, Edwin son of Aelle, was forced into exile. But where did Edwin spend his time in exile?

Answer: In all three of these

Tradition has it that Edwin went into exile in Gwynedd where he was adopted by king Cadfan. By 610 he had arrived in Mercia where he married Cwenburh daughter of King Cearl, he then moved on to East Anglia and was under the protection of King Raedwald.

7. Aethelfrith tried to bribe Raedwald to kill Edwin, but this had no effect; he then sent more messengers and demanded that Edwin be killed or surrendered or face war. Raedwald was persuaded by his wife that a man of honour could not betray his guest, and so gathered an army and met Aethelfrith in battle. But on the banks of which river?

Answer: Idle

Late in the year of 616 Raedwald's army clashed with Aethelfrith's on the east bank of the River Idle (in Nottinghamshire). It is said that Aethelthrith was not prepared for battle and only had a small force with him, probably his gesithas (a bodyguard of warrior nobles). Henry of Huntingdon stated that "Aethelfrith fell upon the close columns of Raedwald and put to the sword Rainer, the king's son ... but became separated from his own troops and was struck down on a heap of bodies he had slain".

8. Edwin regained his kingdom after the death of Aethelfrith, and was also accepted as king in Bernicia. But what was Edwin's first act as the new king of Northumbria?

Answer: He attacked the kingdom of Elmet

In 617 Edwin attacked the British kingdom of Elmet and expelled its king, Ceretic. Hereric who was nephew to Edwin was poisoned while living in exile in Elmet, probably at the instigation of Aethelfrith, consequently revenge is the main theory for Edwin's attack. Ceretic fled to Gwynedd where he is said to have died two years later.

9. By the late 620s Edwin was said to have held overlordship over all the English kingdoms, with the exception of Kent. He was also overlord of Anglesey and Man having driven its king into exile. Who was this king?

Answer: Cadwallon

Gwynedd at that time was ruled by Cadwallon son of Cadfan. Edwin attacked Ynys Manaw (Isle of Man) by sea and, from there Ynys Mon (Anglesey). Cadwallon was besieged on the tiny island of Priestholm, but after several weeks managed to escape to Ireland and eventually to Brittany. He would return to seek vengence on Edwin and Northumbria.

10. At which disastrous battle in 633 were Edwin and his son Osfrith killed, and his other son Eadfrith captured ?

Answer: Hatfield Chase

Cadwallon, returning from exile, raised an army, and in alliance with Penda of Mercia (Cadwallon had married Penda's sister) destroyed the Northumbrian army at Hatfield Chase. With Edwin's death the kingdom split into its original kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. Edwin's other son who was captured was later killed by Penda.

Source: Author Yorkie1

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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North of the Humber Trivia Quiz

A quiz covering the early years of the kingdom of Northumbria from the 540s to 630s.

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