The siege can be seen as an important episode in a long-running war between Mercia and Northumbria in the years 616–679. This war was fought in the area north of the River Trent, in particular in and around the Peak District (Wirksworth) also around Heathfield (Doncaster), Elmet (Aberford) and Lindsey (Lincoln), as these were provinces of Northumbria at the time.
The etymology of the name Urbs Iudeu is uncertain, as is its location; this difficulty is compounded by the fact that the place-names of other locations mentioned in relation to the siege also cause interpretative problems. A geographical survey of Britain in the eighth-century Ecclesiastical History of the English People by Bede mentions a place called urbs Giudi ("the town of Giudi") on the Firth of Forth, generally thought to be what is now Stirling.[1] The superficial similarity of the names has led many scholars to assume that Bede's urbs Giudi was the same place as the Historia Brittonum's urbs Iudeu, and that urbs Iudeu was on the Firth of Forth. But this location is far beyond the kingdoms involved in the war and recent research has suggested that urbs Iudeu and urbs Giudi were different places.[1]: 7–9
Oswestry has been suggested as the site of the battle of Maserfelth: it is also too far from the battle zone and an unlikely location as the Welsh and the Mercians were allies at this time.[citation needed] Wirksworth in the Peak District is the principal candidate for the location of Urbs Iudeu due to its antiquity, its strategic location and its Roman and Northumbrian remains.[citation needed]
Background and origins of the battleedit
In or about 616 AD, the Northumbrians, apparently attempting to expand their kingdom under King Æthelfrith, fought the native Britons and their allies at the Battle of Chester. The Northumbrians had the victory and allegedly slaughtered a large number of monks nearby who had prayed for a British victory.[2] The Northumbrians were then able to take control of the area north of the River Trent.[3] The Britons (i.e. the Welsh), supported by the Mercians, then attempted to regain control of the area from the Northumbrians. This resulted in a war which took place up and down Ryknield Street, Ermine Street and lesser known north–south Roman routes. These roads gave entry, respectively, to Northumbria from the south and to Mercia from the north.
The series of battles and sieges was recorded in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons).[4] Earlier, in a more incoherent way, some of the battles had been noted from the Northumbrian viewpoint by the Venerable Bede in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People).[5]
Battle sites and episodesedit
616: Battle of Chester – A Northumbrian victory, the British and Mercian army defeated. Recent archaeological work at Heronbridge near Chester has identified the battle site.[6]
633: Battle of Hatfield Chase – A Northumbrian army was defeated by an alliance of Mercia and Gwynedd, and Edwin of Northumbria was killed.[7] There are two possible locations which lay claim for this battle site. Either Hatfield Chase near Doncaster, near where a small former Roman fort at Kirk Sandall guards the south bank of the Don; or Hatfield near Cuckney in Nottinghamshire, near a former Roman camp at Gleadthorpe.Wirksworth Stone, a sarcophagus lid of Northumbrian sculpture
636: Morfael, a British leader, attacked Caer Llwydgoed (Old Welsh Cair Luit Coit, probably Wirksworth) and killed a bishop during the battle.
642: Battle of Maserfield (also known as the battle of Maes Cogwy or The Battle of Aberford) in which Oswald of Northumbria was defeated by Penda of Mercia. The battle took place where the western branch of Ermine Street crosses the Cock Beck at the Aberford Dykes (ancient fortifications).[8]
655: The siege of Urbs Iudeu at which King Oswiu of Northumbria was compelled to buy off Penda of Mercia and Cadafael of Gwynedd by "delivering all the treasures which were in the city into the hands of Penda, and Penda distributed them to the Kings of the British, this is called the Restitution of Iudeu".[9]
655: Battle of the Winwaed (Maes Gai) – Penda continued attempts to eject the Northumbrians, building to this November battle. Penda was killed and the Mercians and Britons defeated. Oswiu of Northumbria then set up Peada as 'King' of Mercia under Northumbrian control. It was said of the battle that the river rose in flood and as many were killed by drowning as in the battle.
657–674: The Mercian nobility rebel, kill Peada and make Wulfhere king of Mercia. In 670, Oswiu dies and is succeeded by his son Ecgfrith as King of Northumbria. In 674, Wulfhere dies and is replaced by Æthelred as King of Mercia.[10]
679: Battle of the Trent – The Northumbrians are wholly defeated by the Mercians at an unknown site near the River Trent.
Outcomes and legacyedit
The Wirksworth Sceatt, a Northumbrian coin from the reign of King Eadberht, found at an archaeological dig in the town in 1986
The battles of the Northumbrian–Mercian war resulted from Northumbrian attempts to expand their kingdom, which originally comprised the provinces of Deira and Bernicia, including all the region north of the River Trent and in close proximity to it. This destroyed British supremacy in "the old North" and resulted in the war. Its eventual outcome and legacy, however, was the development and expansion of the Mercian kingdom beyond its original focal point in the Trent Valley around Tamworth and Repton. After the Battle of the Trent in 679, the border between Mercia and Northumbria appears to have been settled, with the provinces of Elmet and Heathfield becoming part of Northumbria and the provinces of The Peak District and Lindsey becoming part of Mercia. The Britons appear to retire quietly to Wales and, at least at the start of the Mercian kingdom, relations between the Mercians and the Welsh were of equal respect.[11]
^ abAitchison, Nick (2023-09-11). "Urbs Giudi: text, translation and topography". Anglo-Saxon England: 1–41. doi:10.1017/S0263675123000078. ISSN 0263-6751.
^ 'Early medieval Chester 400-1230', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 1, the City of Chester: General History and Topography, ed. C P Lewis and A T Thacker (London, 2003), pp. 16-33. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ches/vol5/pt1/pp16-33
^Collins R, 1999 Early Mediaeval Europe 300-1000, Basingstoke, MacMillan, pp186-195
^Giles JA, 2000, History of the Britons by Nennius, Cambridge, In parentheses Publications, p 28.
^Bede, 731AD Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book 3
^ Davies S, 2010, The Battle of Chester and Warfare in Post-Roman Britain, Wiley, History, Vol. 95, No. 2 (318) (APRIL 2010), pp. 143-158 https://www.jstor.org/stable/24428809
^Collins R, 1999 Early Mediaeval Europe 300-1000, Basingstoke, MacMillan, pp186-195
^Grigg E, 2015, Early Medieval Dykes (400 to 850 AD), Thesis Phd, University of Manchester, p271
^Brady L, 2017 Writing the Welsh Borderlands in Anglo-Saxon England, Manchester, Manchester University Press, p 40
^Zaluckyj S, 2001, Mercia: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Central England, Almeley, Logaston Press, pp 28-30, p3
^Brooks N, 1989, “The formation of the Mercian Kingdom” in Bassett S, The origins of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, London, Leicester University Press, pp158-170
Brady L, 2017, Writing the Welsh Borderlands in Anglo-Saxon England, Manchester, Manchester University Press, p 40
Brooks N, 1989, “The formation of the Mercian Kingdom” in Bassett S, The origins of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, London, Leicester University Press, pp 158-170
Brooks N, 2000, “Anglo-Saxon Myths: State and Church 400-1066”, London, Hambledon press, pp 69-77
Collins R, 1999, Early Mediaeval Europe 300-1000, Basingstoke, MacMillan, pp 186-195
Foot S, 1993, “The Kingdom of Lindsey” in Pre-Viking Lindsey, Lincoln, City of Lincoln Archaeological Unit, pp 128-140
Gelling M, 1992, The West Midlands in the Early Middle Ages, Leicester, Leicester University Press, pp 94-100, pp 125-145
Giles JA, 2000, History of the Britons by Nennius, Cambridge, In parentheses Publications, p 28.
Grigg E, 2015, Early Medieval Dykes (400 to 850 AD), Thesis Phd, University of Manchester, p 271
Jebson T, 2006, The Anglo Saxon Chronicle, Manuscript E (The “Peterborough”) Bodleian Library MS Laud 636, accessed at http://asc.jebbo.co.uk/e/e-L.html
Welch M in Brown MP and Farr CA, 2001, Mercia, London, Leicester University Press, p153
Yorke B, 1990, Kings and Kingdoms of early Anglo-Saxon England, London, Routledge, pp 100-127
Zaluckyj S, 2001, Mercia: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Central England, Almeley, Logaston Press, pp 28-30, p35
January 01, 1970
urbs, iudeu, urbs, judeu, ludeu, city, whose, location, unknown, which, according, ninth, century, historia, brittonum, besieged, penda, king, mercia, cadafael, king, gwynedd, siege, seen, important, episode, long, running, between, mercia, northumbria, years,. Urbs Iudeu Urbs Judeu Ludeu was a city whose location is now unknown which according to the ninth century Historia Brittonum was besieged in 655 AD by Penda King of Mercia and Cadafael King of Gwynedd The siege can be seen as an important episode in a long running war between Mercia and Northumbria in the years 616 679 This war was fought in the area north of the River Trent in particular in and around the Peak District Wirksworth also around Heathfield Doncaster Elmet Aberford and Lindsey Lincoln as these were provinces of Northumbria at the time Contents 1 Place and location 2 Background and origins of the battle 3 Battle sites and episodes 4 Outcomes and legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyPlace and location editThe etymology of the name Urbs Iudeu is uncertain as is its location this difficulty is compounded by the fact that the place names of other locations mentioned in relation to the siege also cause interpretative problems A geographical survey of Britain in the eighth century Ecclesiastical History of the English People by Bede mentions a place called urbs Giudi the town of Giudi on the Firth of Forth generally thought to be what is now Stirling 1 The superficial similarity of the names has led many scholars to assume that Bede s urbs Giudi was the same place as the Historia Brittonum s urbs Iudeu and that urbs Iudeu was on the Firth of Forth But this location is far beyond the kingdoms involved in the war and recent research has suggested that urbs Iudeu and urbs Giudi were different places 1 7 9 Oswestry has been suggested as the site of the battle of Maserfelth it is also too far from the battle zone and an unlikely location as the Welsh and the Mercians were allies at this time citation needed Wirksworth in the Peak District is the principal candidate for the location of Urbs Iudeu due to its antiquity its strategic location and its Roman and Northumbrian remains citation needed Background and origins of the battle editIn or about 616 AD the Northumbrians apparently attempting to expand their kingdom under King AEthelfrith fought the native Britons and their allies at the Battle of Chester The Northumbrians had the victory and allegedly slaughtered a large number of monks nearby who had prayed for a British victory 2 The Northumbrians were then able to take control of the area north of the River Trent 3 The Britons i e the Welsh supported by the Mercians then attempted to regain control of the area from the Northumbrians This resulted in a war which took place up and down Ryknield Street Ermine Street and lesser known north south Roman routes These roads gave entry respectively to Northumbria from the south and to Mercia from the north The series of battles and sieges was recorded in the Historia Brittonum History of the Britons 4 Earlier in a more incoherent way some of the battles had been noted from the Northumbrian viewpoint by the Venerable Bede in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum Ecclesiastical History of the English People 5 Battle sites and episodes edit616 Battle of Chester A Northumbrian victory the British and Mercian army defeated Recent archaeological work at Heronbridge near Chester has identified the battle site 6 633 Battle of Hatfield Chase A Northumbrian army was defeated by an alliance of Mercia and Gwynedd and Edwin of Northumbria was killed 7 There are two possible locations which lay claim for this battle site Either Hatfield Chase near Doncaster near where a small former Roman fort at Kirk Sandall guards the south bank of the Don or Hatfield near Cuckney in Nottinghamshire near a former Roman camp at Gleadthorpe nbsp Wirksworth Stone a sarcophagus lid of Northumbrian sculpture 636 Morfael a British leader attacked Caer Llwydgoed Old Welsh Cair Luit Coit probably Wirksworth and killed a bishop during the battle 642 Battle of Maserfield also known as the battle of Maes Cogwy or The Battle of Aberford in which Oswald of Northumbria was defeated by Penda of Mercia The battle took place where the western branch of Ermine Street crosses the Cock Beck at the Aberford Dykes ancient fortifications 8 655 The siege of Urbs Iudeu at which King Oswiu of Northumbria was compelled to buy off Penda of Mercia and Cadafael of Gwynedd by delivering all the treasures which were in the city into the hands of Penda and Penda distributed them to the Kings of the British this is called the Restitution of Iudeu 9 655 Battle of the Winwaed Maes Gai Penda continued attempts to eject the Northumbrians building to this November battle Penda was killed and the Mercians and Britons defeated Oswiu of Northumbria then set up Peada as King of Mercia under Northumbrian control It was said of the battle that the river rose in flood and as many were killed by drowning as in the battle 657 674 The Mercian nobility rebel kill Peada and make Wulfhere king of Mercia In 670 Oswiu dies and is succeeded by his son Ecgfrith as King of Northumbria In 674 Wulfhere dies and is replaced by AEthelred as King of Mercia 10 679 Battle of the Trent The Northumbrians are wholly defeated by the Mercians at an unknown site near the River Trent Outcomes and legacy edit nbsp The Wirksworth Sceatt a Northumbrian coin from the reign of King Eadberht found at an archaeological dig in the town in 1986 The battles of the Northumbrian Mercian war resulted from Northumbrian attempts to expand their kingdom which originally comprised the provinces of Deira and Bernicia including all the region north of the River Trent and in close proximity to it This destroyed British supremacy in the old North and resulted in the war Its eventual outcome and legacy however was the development and expansion of the Mercian kingdom beyond its original focal point in the Trent Valley around Tamworth and Repton After the Battle of the Trent in 679 the border between Mercia and Northumbria appears to have been settled with the provinces of Elmet and Heathfield becoming part of Northumbria and the provinces of The Peak District and Lindsey becoming part of Mercia The Britons appear to retire quietly to Wales and at least at the start of the Mercian kingdom relations between the Mercians and the Welsh were of equal respect 11 See also editList of Anglo Welsh warsReferences edit a b Aitchison Nick 2023 09 11 Urbs Giudi text translation and topography Anglo Saxon England 1 41 doi 10 1017 S0263675123000078 ISSN 0263 6751 Early medieval Chester 400 1230 in A History of the County of Chester Volume 5 Part 1 the City of Chester General History and Topography ed C P Lewis and A T Thacker London 2003 pp 16 33 British History Online http www british history ac uk vch ches vol5 pt1 pp16 33 Collins R 1999 Early Mediaeval Europe 300 1000 Basingstoke MacMillan pp186 195 Giles JA 2000 History of the Britons by Nennius Cambridge In parentheses Publications p 28 Bede 731AD Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book 3 Davies S 2010 The Battle of Chester and Warfare in Post Roman Britain Wiley History Vol 95 No 2 318 APRIL 2010 pp 143 158 https www jstor org stable 24428809 Collins R 1999 Early Mediaeval Europe 300 1000 Basingstoke MacMillan pp186 195 Grigg E 2015 Early Medieval Dykes 400 to 850 AD Thesis Phd University of Manchester p271 Brady L 2017 Writing the Welsh Borderlands in Anglo Saxon England Manchester Manchester University Press p 40 Zaluckyj S 2001 Mercia The Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Central England Almeley Logaston Press pp 28 30 p3 Brooks N 1989 The formation of the Mercian Kingdom in Bassett S The origins of Anglo Saxon Kingdoms London Leicester University Press pp158 170Bibliography editBede 731AD Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book 3 accessed at Fordham University on http www fordham edu halsall sbook html Brady L 2017 Writing the Welsh Borderlands in Anglo Saxon England Manchester Manchester University Press p 40 Brooks N 1989 The formation of the Mercian Kingdom in Bassett S The origins of Anglo Saxon Kingdoms London Leicester University Press pp 158 170 Brooks N 2000 Anglo Saxon Myths State and Church 400 1066 London Hambledon press pp 69 77 Collins R 1999 Early Mediaeval Europe 300 1000 Basingstoke MacMillan pp 186 195 Foot S 1993 The Kingdom of Lindsey in Pre Viking Lindsey Lincoln City of Lincoln Archaeological Unit pp 128 140 Gelling M 1992 The West Midlands in the Early Middle Ages Leicester Leicester University Press pp 94 100 pp 125 145 Giles JA 2000 History of the Britons by Nennius Cambridge In parentheses Publications p 28 Grigg E 2015 Early Medieval Dykes 400 to 850 AD Thesis Phd University of Manchester p 271 Halsall P 1998 Annales Cambriae 447 954 accessed at Fordham University on http www fordham edu halsall source annalescambriae html Jebson T 2006 The Anglo Saxon Chronicle Manuscript E The Peterborough Bodleian Library MS Laud 636 accessed at http asc jebbo co uk e e L html Mathews K 2006 Marwnad Cynddylan The death of Cynddylan section 8 accessed at http www kmatthews org uk history texts html Welch M in Brown MP and Farr CA 2001 Mercia London Leicester University Press p153 Yorke B 1990 Kings and Kingdoms of early Anglo Saxon England London Routledge pp 100 127 Zaluckyj S 2001 Mercia The Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Central England Almeley Logaston Press pp 28 30 p35 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Urbs Iudeu amp oldid 1219559851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
