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Durham E-Theses Charlemagne and Northumbria : the inuence of Francia on Northumbrian politics in the later eighth and early ninth centuries. Story, Joanna How to cite: Story, Joanna (1995) Charlemagne and Northumbria : the inuence of Francia on Northumbrian politics in the later eighth and early ninth centuries., Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1460/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Charlemagne and Northumbria: The influence of Francia on Northumbrian politics in the later eighth and early ninth centuries. Submitted for the Degree of Ph.D. in the Department of History, University of Durham, December 1995. J. E. Story. Thesis Abstract: This thesis broadens understanding of the political connections between the Anglo- Saxon kingdom of Northumbria and Carolingian Francia in the latter part of the eighth century. To this end it considers the influence of Francia on Northumbria through the analysis of three specific texts, emphasising primarily their Frankish affinities and secondly, their native Northumbrian contexts. The texts examined in this way are firstly, the set of annals produced in York and now incorporated within the chronicle compilation known as the Historia Regain (Chapter 3), secondly, the Report produced by George of Ostia, the papal Legate who was sent to Northumbria in 786 (Chapter 4) and thirdly, the so-called 'York Poem' composed by Alcuin (Chapter 5). A central theme in the analysis of these texts is the introduction of Carolingian concepts of kingship and the nature of temporal power to the Northumbrian secular and ecclesiastical elites, as exemplified by the elaborate ceremony in which Eardwulf was created king of Northumbria in 796. These later eighth-century links are set in their longer term context in Chapter 2, which considers Franco-Northumbrian connections in the seventh and earlier eighth centuries. These central chapters are framed by an analysis of the Frankish involvement in the restoration of King Eardwulf to Northumbria in 808 after his expulsion and exile in Francia. Chapter 1 examines the evidence for the restoration of Eardwulf by Carolingian and papal agents and notes that similar Frankish interest in Northumbrian affairs was displayed during the reigns of preceding rulers of that kingdom. A study of the 'Fardwulf incident' also raises questions as to the nature of Carolingian 'foreign policy' towards other regions which lay beyond the marchlands of Frankish territory. Thus, Chapter 6 examines several events which parallel Eardwulf's return to Northumbria as recorded in chronicles concerning other kingdoms which bordered Charlemagne's realm. Carolingian attitudes towards Northumbria are thereby placed within the broader context of the growing influence and power of Charlemagne's Francia within eighth-century Europe. CIIARLEMAGNE AND NORTHUMBRIA: THE INFLUENCE OF FRANCIA ON NORTHUNIBRIAN POLITICS IN THE LATER EIGHTH AND EARLY NINTH CENTURIES. The epitaph of Pope Hadrian, commissioned by Charlemagne, composed by Alcuin and recorded in the eighth-century York section of the Historia Re gum (s. a. 794). This, the original marble memorial, is now preserved in the portico of St Peter's, Rome (on which, see below Chapter 3, pp. 156-8). The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. CHARLEMAGNE AND NORTHUMBRIA: THE INFLUENCE OF FRANCIA ON NORTHUMBRIAN POLITICS IN THE LATER EIGHTH AND EARLY NINTH CENTURIES. Joanna Elizabeth Story, Submitted for the degree of Ph.D. University of Durham, Department of History, December 1995. .7- 4 JUN 1996 iv CONTENTS page numbers List of Tables and Illustrations v Preface ... vi Declaration vii Abbreviations viii-xi INTRODUCTION 1-16 CHAPTER 1: The restoration of King Eardwulf, its Carolingian context 17-47 CHAPTER 2: Francia and Northumbria before AD 750: a summary of contacts 48-79 CHAPTER 3: Francia and the Northern Annals 80-165 CHAPTER 4: The Legatine Mission of 786: the evidence for Frankish involvement.. 166-218 CHAPTER 5: Alcuin, the York Poem and Frankish Kingship 219-54 CHAPTER 6: Conclusions: Northumbria in a Carolingian World 255-80 APPENDIX: The Frankish annals incorporated within the Historia Regum a) Latin edition 281-87 b) English translation 288-94 BIBLIOGRAPHY: 295-313 LIST OF TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS page reference Frontispiece : The memorial to Pope Hadrian, housed in the portico of St. Peter's, Rome Table 1: Manuscript details and editions of sources 83 Diagram : Simplified hypothetical diagram of the evolution of the eighth-century Northern Annals 93 Table 2: The relationship between the HReg and the annals associated with the HE s. a. 731-4 100 Plate 1: Helmstedt MS 454 fol. 113v Plate 2: Helmstedt MS 454 fol. 114r Plate 3: Helmstedt MS 454 fol. 126r Plate 4: Helmstedt MS 454 fol. 126v Plate 5: Helmstedt MS 454 fol. 127r between pp. 188-9 Table 3: Known events of Alcuin's life correlated alongside events in Northumbria as gleaned from the chronicle sources between pp. 220-1 NB: The copyright of Plates 1-5 belongs to the Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel where the manuscript containing the sole copy of the Legatine Report (see below, Chapter 4) is deposited. That library provided the photographs and kindly gave permission for them to be reproduced here. vi PREFACE My first debt of thanks is to the British Academy which generously sponsored the period of research which has resulted in this thesis. I owe much to my ever watchful supervisor David Rollason whose enthusiasm has been a constant source of inspiration to me during my time in Durham and also to Lynda Rollason whose good-humoured friendship has been much appreciated. Many friends have helped with countless hours of discussion and distraction, but in particular I am grateful to Adam Gwilt, Rebecca Reader, Ed Eastaugh, Katie Hirst, Jeremy Taylor, Liz Foyster, Ros Martin, Vicky Avery and Sara Marani (who took the took the photograph on p. ii). I owe a lot to the patience and kindness of Roger Norris of the Dean and Chapter Library in Durham Cathedral and have a similar debt to Michael Gullick, Alan Piper and Tim Graham. Professor Ros ,emary Cramp and Deborah Lavin of Trevelyan College have both given me hours of their valuable time at critical moments in the last few years and for their advice I am very grateful. Latterly, much thanks is due to Martin Millett who made me believe I could finish this and to my parents who knew all along that I would. Finally, due credit must be given to a man who is long since dead. Most notable amongst the scholars interested in early Anglo-Continental relations was Wilhelm Levison whose book England and the Continent in the Eighth Century (Oxford, 1946), based on his series of Ford Lectures given in 1943, remains the standard and most authoritative work in the field. The forthcoming study can only contribute to the debate engendered by Levi son's book, the product of a lifetime of devotion to the study of the history of early medieval Europe. He was given an honorary fellowship in Durham in 1939 when life became impossible for him in his German patria. The preparation of this thesis has been considerably eased by the presence in Durham of a large collection of books from Levison's personal library, many of which are extensively annotated in his own distinctive hand. In my own wanderings through the mass of evidence which sheds light on this period of history, I am therefore more than usually conscious of following in the tracks of a great scholar and (at the risk of gross pretension) to his posthumous guidance I am indebted. It is hoped that this thesis, finished a few months before the fiftieth anniversary of Levison's death might be considered in some small way to have contributed to the subject to which he devoted so much attention. Jo Story, December 1995, Durham. vii DECLARATION No part of this work (which falls within the statutory word limit) has previously been submitted for a degree in this or any other university. The copyright of this thesis remains with the author. No quotation from it should be published without her prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. At the discretion of the librarian of the University of Durham, this thesis may, i) be made available to bona fide scholars, ii) be photocopied wholly or in part for consultation outside Durham. ABBREVIATIONS Alc. Ep. Alcuin's letters as found in Diimmler, E., ed. Epistolae Karolini Aevi Vol. 2, MGH Epistolae IV (Berlin, 1895). A Lf Anna/es Lindisfarnenses as discussed and edited by Levison, W., 'Die "Annales Lindisfarnenses et Dunelmenses” kritisch untersucht und neu herausgegeben', Deutsches Archly fiir Eiforschung des Mittelalters Vol. 17 (1961), 447-506. AMP r (de Simson) Anna/es Mettenses Priores as edited by de Simson, B., `Annales Mettenses Priores', in Scriptores Karolini Lvi, MGH SRG Vol.