Hereswitha
Encyclopedia
Hereswitha or Hereswyde also spelt Hereswithe or Haeresvid, was a 7th century Northumbrian saint. She married into the East Anglian royal dynasty and afterwards retired to Gaul
to lead a religious life. Details of her life and identity come from Bede
's Historia Ecclesiastica
, the Anglian Collection
and the lives of Edwin of Northumbria
and Hilda of Whitby
.
(who ruled from about 616 to 632), the son of Ælle, King of the Northumbrian kingdom of Deira. After Ælle's death, Edwin, his heir, was sent into exile by the rulers of the northern Northumbrian kingdom of Bernicia. He had at least two siblings, including a sister named Acha and was Hereswith's grandfather on her father's side. Edwin was received in exile at the court of the powerful Welsh ruler Cadfan ap Iago
of Gwynedd
and in childhood he was the companion of Cadfan's son Cadwallon.
During the 590s, Æthelfrith became the most powerful ruler in Northumbria. Following the battle of Degsastan in 603, he became sufficiently powerful to absorb Deira within his rule. In his second marriage Æthelfrith married Edwin's sister Acha. Hereric married Breguswith and had two daughters, Hereswith and her younger sister Hild, who was born around 613. However, Hereric was exiled and was forced to seek protection in the British Kingdom of Elmet, then ruled by Ceretic. During Hereric's exile, Edwin was living at the court of Cearl of Mercia
, where he married Cearl's daughter and had two sons. Here he fell under the broader protection of the southern English kingdoms whose overlord was Aethelberht of Kent (who ruled from about 560 to 616). During the latter part of Æthelberht's rule, power gravitated towards Rædwald of East Anglia, who had signalled his intention to succeed to the dominion of Æthelberht by receiving baptism in Kent
from the Roman mission of Saint Augustine.
Æthelfrith of Northumbria wished to destroy Edwin and before 616 Edwin was forced into exile, eventually taking refuge at the court of Rædwald. Æthelfrith sought to bribe and threaten Rædwald to surrender or slay Edwin, but instead Rædwald destroyed the Northumbrian king at the Battle of the River Idle in 616 and set Edwin as Northumbrian ruler in Æthelfrith's place. Around this time, Hereric was treacherously murdered in Elmet by his British hosts, presumably at the prompting either of Æthelfrith or of Cadwallon, both of whom wished to control Deira. Breguswith appears not to have been in exile with him, as she conducted a search for him, but in vain.
Among Edwin's first actions as ruler was the subjection of Elmet and exile of Ceretic in atonement for this crime, and Hereric's family became attached to Edwin's household. Edwin himself was not Christian, although he had encountered Christianity both in Cadfan's and Raedwald's courts. It is probable that Hereric had witnessed Christian practises whilst in Elmet.
at York
. Breguswith, Hild and Hereswith were baptized on the same occasion. Hereswith was therefore a direct witness of, and participant in, one of the most transforming Christian conversions in early Anglo-Saxon history.
Soon after his conversion, Edwin (with Paulinus) also undertook the conversion of the kingdom of Lindsey
and later of the East Angles, then ruled by Raedwald's son Eorpwald
. Eorpwald was assassinated soon his conversion and East Angles turned away from the Christian alliance which Edwin was attempting to forge. During this period (c. 627-629) the family of Raedwald's brother Eni
began to assume power in East Anglia as the line of Raedwald was being extinguished.
during the early 630s, when Christianity was restored to East Anglia. This royal alliance suggests that Athilric was expected to rule and was either already Christian, or accepted the faith in consequence of the marriage. Edwin was slain by Cadwallon in 632-633: Ecgric and Sigeberht died fighting the pagan Mercian ruler Penda
, probably in 636, and were succeeded by a Christian son of Eni named Anna
, who ruled until c. 653-654.
ruled East Anglia from c. 664-713, after two other sons of Eni, Æthelhere
(r. 654) and Æthelwold had ruled after Anna. Ealdwulf was therefore then seen as the legitimate heir of the Wuffinga household.
, then in the Diocese of Paris, where there was a royal oratory. Hereswith remained in Gaul for the rest of her life.
After staying for one year in East Anglia in 647, Hild returned to Northumbria to rule the monastery of Hartlepool
and later founded the royal Northumbrian abbey and mausoleum of Whitby
, at which Edwin was enshrined.
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
to lead a religious life. Details of her life and identity come from Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
's Historia Ecclesiastica
Historia Ecclesiastica
Historia Ecclesiastica is the name of many different works, documenting the history of Christianity.These include books by:*Alexander Natalis*Bartholomew of Lucca, Historia Ecclesiastica Nova...
, the Anglian Collection
Anglian collection
The Anglian collection is a collection of Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies and regnal lists. These survive in four manuscripts; two of which now reside in the British Library...
and the lives of Edwin of Northumbria
Edwin of Northumbria
Edwin , also known as Eadwine or Æduini, was the King of Deira and Bernicia – which later became known as Northumbria – from about 616 until his death. He converted to Christianity and was baptised in 627; after he fell at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, he was venerated as a saint.Edwin was the son...
and Hilda of Whitby
Hilda of Whitby
Hilda of Whitby or Hild of Whitby was a Christian saint and the founding abbess of the monastery at Whitby, which was chosen as the venue for the Synod of Whitby...
.
Background
The Northumbrian royal descent of Hereswith is traced from Edwin of NorthumbriaEdwin of Northumbria
Edwin , also known as Eadwine or Æduini, was the King of Deira and Bernicia – which later became known as Northumbria – from about 616 until his death. He converted to Christianity and was baptised in 627; after he fell at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, he was venerated as a saint.Edwin was the son...
(who ruled from about 616 to 632), the son of Ælle, King of the Northumbrian kingdom of Deira. After Ælle's death, Edwin, his heir, was sent into exile by the rulers of the northern Northumbrian kingdom of Bernicia. He had at least two siblings, including a sister named Acha and was Hereswith's grandfather on her father's side. Edwin was received in exile at the court of the powerful Welsh ruler Cadfan ap Iago
Cadfan ap Iago
Cadfan ap Iago was King of Gwynedd . Little is known of the history of Gwynedd from this period, and information about Cadfan and his reign is minimal....
of Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
and in childhood he was the companion of Cadfan's son Cadwallon.
During the 590s, Æthelfrith became the most powerful ruler in Northumbria. Following the battle of Degsastan in 603, he became sufficiently powerful to absorb Deira within his rule. In his second marriage Æthelfrith married Edwin's sister Acha. Hereric married Breguswith and had two daughters, Hereswith and her younger sister Hild, who was born around 613. However, Hereric was exiled and was forced to seek protection in the British Kingdom of Elmet, then ruled by Ceretic. During Hereric's exile, Edwin was living at the court of Cearl of Mercia
Cearl of Mercia
Cearl was an early king of Mercia who ruled during the early part of the 7th century, perhaps from about 606 to about 626. He is the first Mercian king mentioned by Bede in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum.Cearl's ancestry is unknown...
, where he married Cearl's daughter and had two sons. Here he fell under the broader protection of the southern English kingdoms whose overlord was Aethelberht of Kent (who ruled from about 560 to 616). During the latter part of Æthelberht's rule, power gravitated towards Rædwald of East Anglia, who had signalled his intention to succeed to the dominion of Æthelberht by receiving baptism in Kent
Kingdom of Kent
The Kingdom of Kent was a Jutish colony and later independent kingdom in what is now south east England. It was founded at an unknown date in the 5th century by Jutes, members of a Germanic people from continental Europe, some of whom settled in Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans...
from the Roman mission of Saint Augustine.
Æthelfrith of Northumbria wished to destroy Edwin and before 616 Edwin was forced into exile, eventually taking refuge at the court of Rædwald. Æthelfrith sought to bribe and threaten Rædwald to surrender or slay Edwin, but instead Rædwald destroyed the Northumbrian king at the Battle of the River Idle in 616 and set Edwin as Northumbrian ruler in Æthelfrith's place. Around this time, Hereric was treacherously murdered in Elmet by his British hosts, presumably at the prompting either of Æthelfrith or of Cadwallon, both of whom wished to control Deira. Breguswith appears not to have been in exile with him, as she conducted a search for him, but in vain.
Among Edwin's first actions as ruler was the subjection of Elmet and exile of Ceretic in atonement for this crime, and Hereric's family became attached to Edwin's household. Edwin himself was not Christian, although he had encountered Christianity both in Cadfan's and Raedwald's courts. It is probable that Hereric had witnessed Christian practises whilst in Elmet.
Baptism
At Raedwald's death in around 624, Edwin rapidly acquired supreme power among many English and British peoples. He married Æthelburh, daughter of Æthelberht of Kent and in 626 she was baptised by PaulinusPaulinus of York
Paulinus was a Roman missionary and the first Bishop of York. A member of the Gregorian mission sent in 601 by Pope Gregory I to Christianize the Anglo-Saxons from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism, Paulinus arrived in England by 604 with the second missionary group...
at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Breguswith, Hild and Hereswith were baptized on the same occasion. Hereswith was therefore a direct witness of, and participant in, one of the most transforming Christian conversions in early Anglo-Saxon history.
Soon after his conversion, Edwin (with Paulinus) also undertook the conversion of the kingdom of Lindsey
Kingdom of Lindsey
Lindsey or Linnuis is the name of a petty Anglo-Saxon kingdom, absorbed into Northumbria in the 7th century.It lay between the Humber and the Wash, forming its inland boundaries from the course of the Witham and Trent rivers , and the Foss Dyke between...
and later of the East Angles, then ruled by Raedwald's son Eorpwald
Eorpwald of East Anglia
Eorpwald; also Erpenwald or Earpwald, , succeeded his father Rædwald as ruler of the independent Kingdom of the East Angles...
. Eorpwald was assassinated soon his conversion and East Angles turned away from the Christian alliance which Edwin was attempting to forge. During this period (c. 627-629) the family of Raedwald's brother Eni
Eni of East Anglia
Eni or Ennius was a member of the Wuffing family, the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of East Anglia. He was the son of Tyttla and brother of Raedwald, both kings of East Anglia.There is no historical evidence that Eni ever ruled the East Angles himself...
began to assume power in East Anglia as the line of Raedwald was being extinguished.
Hereswith's marriage
It was almost certainly in this period, and probably at Edwin's behest, that Hereswith was married to a son of Eni named Athilric. It is suggested (but not certain) that Athilric was the same person as Ecgric of East Anglia, who ruled with Raedwald's son or stepson Sigeberht of East AngliaSigeberht of East Anglia
Sigeberht of East Anglia , was a saint and a king of East Anglia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom which today includes the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. He was the first English king to receive a Christian baptism and education before his succession and the first to abdicate in order to enter...
during the early 630s, when Christianity was restored to East Anglia. This royal alliance suggests that Athilric was expected to rule and was either already Christian, or accepted the faith in consequence of the marriage. Edwin was slain by Cadwallon in 632-633: Ecgric and Sigeberht died fighting the pagan Mercian ruler Penda
Penda of Mercia
Penda was a 7th-century King of Mercia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is today the English Midlands. A pagan at a time when Christianity was taking hold in many of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Penda took over the Severn Valley in 628 following the Battle of Cirencester before participating in the...
, probably in 636, and were succeeded by a Christian son of Eni named Anna
Anna of East Anglia
Anna was King of East Anglia from the early 640s until his death. Anna was a member of the Wuffingas family, the ruling dynasty of the East Angles. He was one of the three sons of Eni who ruled East Anglia, succeeding some time after Ecgric was killed in battle by Penda of Mercia...
, who ruled until c. 653-654.
Hereswith's son
Hereswith and Athilric had a son named Ealdwulf, born possibly during the late 620s or 630s. EaldwulfEaldwulf of East Anglia
Ealdwulf or Aldwulf was an obscure King of East Anglia who reigned from 663 to around 713.Ealdwulf's reign of forty-nine years was extraordinary in length: only Ethelbald of Mercia's and Offa of Mercia's reigns are comparable...
ruled East Anglia from c. 664-713, after two other sons of Eni, Æthelhere
Aethelhere of East Anglia
Æthelhere was King of East Anglia from 653 or 654 until his death. Æthelhere was a member of the ruling Wuffingas dynasty and was one of three sons of Eni to rule East Anglia as Christian kings...
(r. 654) and Æthelwold had ruled after Anna. Ealdwulf was therefore then seen as the legitimate heir of the Wuffinga household.
Hereswith's departure for Chelles
During the 640s Hereswith's sister Hild received teaching from Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne. About 647 she travelled to East Anglia (to the court of Anna) to join her sister Hereswith. However, Hereswith had already left East Anglia because she wished to live the religious life, and there was then no nunnery in her kingdom. She travelled to Gaul and according to Bede lived as a nun at ChellesChelles Abbey
Chelles Abbey was founded by Saint Balthild, widow of King Clovis II of Neustria circa 658. It was dissolved during the French Revolution.Chelles had been the site of a Merovingian palace, the villa Calae. A church, dedicated to Saint George had been founded at Chelles by Queen Clothilde...
, then in the Diocese of Paris, where there was a royal oratory. Hereswith remained in Gaul for the rest of her life.
Confusions of identity
The identity of Æthilric, Hereswith's husband, is shown in the East Anglian dynastic tally in the Anglian Collection, and in the version given in the Historia Brittonum, since AEthilric is in both cases shown as the father of Ealdwulf, and Bede states that Hild was Ealdwulf's aunt. It is unlikely that two other versions which make her the wife of Æthelhere (Catholic Encyclopedia 1913) or of Anna (Liber Eliensis) can be correct, since her departure for the religious life in Gaul preceded their deaths. Æthilric was probably dead by 647, prompting her retirement, and Ecgric is the only other ruler with whom this son of Eni might be identified. The Anglian Collection also shows that Ælfwald of East Anglia was the son of Ealdwulf, not of Athilric and Hereswith, as is sometimes stated.After staying for one year in East Anglia in 647, Hild returned to Northumbria to rule the monastery of Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
and later founded the royal Northumbrian abbey and mausoleum of Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
, at which Edwin was enshrined.
Sources
- Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, Ed B. Colgrave and R. A. B. Mynors (Oxford 1969).
- S. J. Plunkett, Suffolk in Anglo-Saxon Times (Tempus, Stroud 2005).
- F. M. Stenton, "The East Anglian Kings of the Seventh Century", in P. Clemoes (ed.), The Anglo-Saxons (London, 1959), 43-52.