AD 410-1066 Early medieval

During the 6th century AD, Anglo-Saxons established their own kingdoms in northern England and the south of Scotland. The largest of these was Northumbria. In the 7th century, under a series of warlike rulers, Northumbria extended its borders south into Lincolnshire and north to the Firth of Forth. In the mid-7th century it dominated even the southern kingdoms of England until defeated by the Mercians in 679. Soon after, the Picts and Scots pushed the northern boundary of Northumbria back to the River Tweed.

During the 7th century, Christianity came to northern England, both from the Roman mission based at Canterbury and from the Irish monk Aidan who established a bishop’s seat on the island of Lindisfarne. The 7th and 8th centuries were a golden age for Northumbria. Great monastic centres of learning produced scholars of international renown. The arts flourished under the inspirational patronage of the new religion, particularly carved stonework and decorated religious manuscripts. Churches and great stone crosses were erected across the countryside.

This world came under a terrible threat in 793 when Lindisfarne was the first place to be ravaged by a Viking raid. For the next 70 years, the region was continuously attacked by the Scandinavians. In 875 York was captured and became the capital of a Viking kingdom, which was not restored to the united English kingdom until 954.