North Ages
@northages.bsky.social
Early medieval northern Britain, taking in Picts, Gaels, Britons, Angles and Norse. Feast days, on this day, place-names, archaeology news and book releases. Posts by Dundonian bookworm Craig. https://northages.wordpress.com/
Unlikely Orkney find could rewrite 1,300-year-old Pict history www.heraldscotland.com/news/2561306...
Researchers baffled by 1,300-year-old Orkney remains: Were the Picts not wiped out?
A new archaeological study from Orkney has challenged long-held assumptions about one of Scotland’s most mysterious races – the Picts.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Unlikely Orkney find could rewrite 1,300-year-old Pict history www.heraldscotland.com/news/2561306...
Óláfr Guðrøðsson, Norse king of Dyflin (Dublin), raided Ard Macha (Armagh) #OTD in 933. He joined with Causantín II, king of Alba, and Owain of Strathclyde to fight Æthelstan, king of the English, at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. Viking Dublin 📸National Museum of Ireland #medievalsky
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Óláfr Guðrøðsson, Norse king of Dyflin (Dublin), raided Ard Macha (Armagh) #OTD in 933. He joined with Causantín II, king of Alba, and Owain of Strathclyde to fight Æthelstan, king of the English, at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. Viking Dublin 📸National Museum of Ireland #medievalsky
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a ‘very backward year for corn and produce of every kind’ in 1089, resulting in many people carrying out the harvest #OTD and even later. #medievalsky
November 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a ‘very backward year for corn and produce of every kind’ in 1089, resulting in many people carrying out the harvest #OTD and even later. #medievalsky
Gold jar from Galloway Hoard on display for first time www.bbc.com/news/article...
Gold jar from Galloway Hoard on display in Kirkcudbright
It resembles a perfume bottle and a Latin inscription on it suggests it had a religious function.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Gold jar from Galloway Hoard on display for first time www.bbc.com/news/article...
Guðrøðr (Gothfrith), Norse king of Dublin, raided Armagh #OTD in 921. It was Martinmas Eve, and it would have been filled with people, food and drink. Guðrøðr was briefly king of York before Æthelstan, king of the Anglo-Saxons, drove him out in 927. #medievalsky
November 10, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Guðrøðr (Gothfrith), Norse king of Dublin, raided Armagh #OTD in 921. It was Martinmas Eve, and it would have been filled with people, food and drink. Guðrøðr was briefly king of York before Æthelstan, king of the Anglo-Saxons, drove him out in 927. #medievalsky
Nov 10: Feast of the translation of Willibrord (658-739), archbishop of the Frisians. The Northumbrian’s body was transferred to the monastery of Echternach, Luxembourg, which he founded, #OTD in 739. 📸Iijjccoo #medievalsky
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Nov 10: Feast of the translation of Willibrord (658-739), archbishop of the Frisians. The Northumbrian’s body was transferred to the monastery of Echternach, Luxembourg, which he founded, #OTD in 739. 📸Iijjccoo #medievalsky
William de St Calais was nominated to succeed the murdered Walcher as bishop of Dunholm (Durham) #OTD in 1080. William’s experience as abbot of St Vincent, Le Mans, in the politically volatile county of Maine, France, made him a smart choice. #medievalsky
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
William de St Calais was nominated to succeed the murdered Walcher as bishop of Dunholm (Durham) #OTD in 1080. William’s experience as abbot of St Vincent, Le Mans, in the politically volatile county of Maine, France, made him a smart choice. #medievalsky
Nov 8: Feast of Gartnait of Kinneddar, Moray, a major ecclesiastical site of northern Pictland. Its box-shrine fragment showing the Old Testament David rending a lion’s jaws, left, has a close parallel in the St Andrews Sarcophagus, right. 📸Historic Environment Scotland #medievalsky
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Nov 8: Feast of Gartnait of Kinneddar, Moray, a major ecclesiastical site of northern Pictland. Its box-shrine fragment showing the Old Testament David rending a lion’s jaws, left, has a close parallel in the St Andrews Sarcophagus, right. 📸Historic Environment Scotland #medievalsky
Ælberht, archbishop of York, died #OTD in 779/80. He established a curriculum at the minster school which, in its range, was the envy of Europe. He mentored Alcuin, who travelled to Rome to collect the pallium for Ælberht’s successor, Eanbald I. 📸Paul Lakin #medievalsky
November 8, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Ælberht, archbishop of York, died #OTD in 779/80. He established a curriculum at the minster school which, in its range, was the envy of Europe. He mentored Alcuin, who travelled to Rome to collect the pallium for Ælberht’s successor, Eanbald I. 📸Paul Lakin #medievalsky
Nov 8: Feast of Willehad (†789), bishop. Northumbrian who preached among the Frisians and Saxons. He abandoned his post in the face of the Saxon leader Widukind’s rebellion against Charlemagne in Westphalia in 782. In 787, he was appointed first bishop of Bremen. 📸A Savin #medievalsky
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Nov 8: Feast of Willehad (†789), bishop. Northumbrian who preached among the Frisians and Saxons. He abandoned his post in the face of the Saxon leader Widukind’s rebellion against Charlemagne in Westphalia in 782. In 787, he was appointed first bishop of Bremen. 📸A Savin #medievalsky
I tripped and bought another book. Clumsy. #medievalsky
November 7, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I tripped and bought another book. Clumsy. #medievalsky
Nov 7: Feast of Willibrord (658-739). Northumbrian who studied at Hrypis (Ripon) and Ráith Melsigi (Clonmesh, Ireland). He evangelised in Frisia and became archbishop of the Frisians in 695 with a see at Traiectum (Utrecht). He founded a monastery at Echternach, Luxembourg. 📸Rp #medievalsky
November 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Nov 7: Feast of Willibrord (658-739). Northumbrian who studied at Hrypis (Ripon) and Ráith Melsigi (Clonmesh, Ireland). He evangelised in Frisia and became archbishop of the Frisians in 695 with a see at Traiectum (Utrecht). He founded a monastery at Echternach, Luxembourg. 📸Rp #medievalsky
Reposted by North Ages
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’
Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
November 6, 2025 at 9:20 AM
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’
Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
Wilfrid I, bishop of York, attested a charter of Osric, king of the Hwicce, #OTD in 675. It was a grant to Abbess Bertana of 100 hides of land at Bath, Somerset, for a nunnery. Wilfrid may have been in the south for Earcenwald, bishop of London’s consecration. 📸PMJ Crook #medievalsky
November 6, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Wilfrid I, bishop of York, attested a charter of Osric, king of the Hwicce, #OTD in 675. It was a grant to Abbess Bertana of 100 hides of land at Bath, Somerset, for a nunnery. Wilfrid may have been in the south for Earcenwald, bishop of London’s consecration. 📸PMJ Crook #medievalsky
God’s country 😉
Berry Picking, Mains of Gray, Dundee, painting by James McIntosh Patrick (1907-98).
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
God’s country 😉
Bede wrote a letter to his former pupil Ecgberht, bishop of York, #OTD in 734. He suggested reforms, condemned those who founded pseudo-monasteries for temporal benefits and voiced fears for the military strength of Northumbria should too many youths enter said institutions. #medievalsky
November 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Bede wrote a letter to his former pupil Ecgberht, bishop of York, #OTD in 734. He suggested reforms, condemned those who founded pseudo-monasteries for temporal benefits and voiced fears for the military strength of Northumbria should too many youths enter said institutions. #medievalsky
Reposted by North Ages
HELP US PRINT: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’
This nationally important monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot will only be printed if we hit our crowdfunding target by 6 December.
Please support the campaign by registering your interest: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
This nationally important monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot will only be printed if we hit our crowdfunding target by 6 December.
Please support the campaign by registering your interest: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
HELP US PRINT: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’
This nationally important monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot will only be printed if we hit our crowdfunding target by 6 December.
Please support the campaign by registering your interest: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
This nationally important monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot will only be printed if we hit our crowdfunding target by 6 December.
Please support the campaign by registering your interest: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
Reposted by North Ages
The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, photo by Yorkshire-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
November 3, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, photo by Yorkshire-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
Reposted by North Ages
Debby Banham, Claire Burridge, Lea Olsan eds. Early Medieval Medicine in Context: Transmission, Translation and Transformation - Boydell & Brewer, November 2025
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
November 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Debby Banham, Claire Burridge, Lea Olsan eds. Early Medieval Medicine in Context: Transmission, Translation and Transformation - Boydell & Brewer, November 2025
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
The trial of William de St Calais, bishop of Durham, began at Sarisberie (Old Sarum, Wiltshire) #OTD in 1088. He was implicated in that year’s plot to supplant William II ‘Rufus’, king of the English, with his brother Robert II, duke of Normandy. The bishop was ultimately exiled. #medievalsky
November 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The trial of William de St Calais, bishop of Durham, began at Sarisberie (Old Sarum, Wiltshire) #OTD in 1088. He was implicated in that year’s plot to supplant William II ‘Rufus’, king of the English, with his brother Robert II, duke of Normandy. The bishop was ultimately exiled. #medievalsky
Nov 2: Feast of the translation of Æbbe (†683), abbess of Coludaesburh (Coldingham). Daughter of Æthelfrith, king of Bernicia. Famed for her wisdom but once warned by Adomnán about the relaxed state of her community. St Abb’s Head and Ebchester are named after her. 📸DigVentures #medievalsky
November 2, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Nov 2: Feast of the translation of Æbbe (†683), abbess of Coludaesburh (Coldingham). Daughter of Æthelfrith, king of Bernicia. Famed for her wisdom but once warned by Adomnán about the relaxed state of her community. St Abb’s Head and Ebchester are named after her. 📸DigVentures #medievalsky
A Viking force known as the Great Army captured and sacked York #OTD in 866, before moving on to the Tyne. A tradition recorded in the Historia de Sancto Cuthberto claims the attack was led by Ubba, ‘duke of the Frisians’. 📸York Archaeological Trust #medievalsky
November 1, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A Viking force known as the Great Army captured and sacked York #OTD in 866, before moving on to the Tyne. A tradition recorded in the Historia de Sancto Cuthberto claims the attack was led by Ubba, ‘duke of the Frisians’. 📸York Archaeological Trust #medievalsky
Æthelwald Moll, king of the Northumbrians, was married to an Æthelthryth at Catrice (Catterick, North Yorkshire) #OTD in 762. 📸Oliver Dixon #medievalsky
November 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Æthelwald Moll, king of the Northumbrians, was married to an Æthelthryth at Catrice (Catterick, North Yorkshire) #OTD in 762. 📸Oliver Dixon #medievalsky
Nov 1: Feast of All Saints (All Hallows). Ecgberht, the first archbishop of York (†766), brought the feast to England, where it is found as a marginal addition to the Martyrology of Bede. #medievalsky
November 1, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Nov 1: Feast of All Saints (All Hallows). Ecgberht, the first archbishop of York (†766), brought the feast to England, where it is found as a marginal addition to the Martyrology of Bede. #medievalsky
Reposted by North Ages
On this Halloween, a reminder that a sculptor included a Xenomorph gargoyle during the 1990s restoration of Paisley Abbey
October 31, 2025 at 11:07 AM
On this Halloween, a reminder that a sculptor included a Xenomorph gargoyle during the 1990s restoration of Paisley Abbey