Ælfwald I, king of the Northumbrians, was assassinated at Scythlecester (perhaps Chesters), near Hadrian’s Wall #OTD in 788. It was the result of a conspiracy formed by his leading courtier Sicga, who later killed himself. The murdered king was buried at Hagustaldes ham (Hexham). #medievalsky

Sept 23: Feast of Adomnán mac Rónáin (627-704), abbot of Iona. He wrote The Life of Columba, and championed Rome’s dating of Easter. His Lex Innocentium, ‘Law of the Innocents’, protected women, children and clergy, especially during warfare. Conamail mac Faílbi succeeded him. #medievalsky

✨The Saxon baptistry at St. Peter, Barton-upon-Humber might be even older than the C10th tower. Both were built (in part) with Roman stone transported by river from Yorkshire. Many burials beneath are older than the church.

An Anglo-Danish force stormed York #OTD in 1069, tearing down its two Norman castles, killing hundreds of Frenchmen and taking sheriff William Malet captive. Edgar Ætheling, ealdormen Waltheof and Gospatric, Mærle-Sveinn and Siward son of Æthelgar led the English. 📸Terry Ball #medievalsky

Harald (III) Sigurðsson, king of Norway, and Tostig Godwineson, former ealdorman in Northumbria, defeated the brothers Morcar and Edwin, ealdormen in Northumbria and Mercia respectively, at the Battle of Fulford, near York, #OTD in 1066. 📸British Museum #medievalsky

There's a new book by Martin Carver about the extraordinary project to build a copy of the ship that was buried in Sutton Hoo mound 1. Published by @boydellandbrewer.bsky.social and available from saxonship.org/product/book...

York's Norman garrison torched a number of buildings #OTD in 1069, fearing the approaching Anglo-Danish force would use the wood to fill the moats. Unfortunately the fires spread, destroying much of the city including St Peter's Church (today's York Minster). 📸Terry Ball #medievalsky

Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, died #OTD in 690. He split Northumbria into dioceses of Bernicia, Deira and Lindsey, and created a see for the Picts at Abercorn, pictured. He also brokered peace between Northumbria and Mercia after the Battle of the Trent, 679. 📸Kim Traynor #medievalsky

Pehtwine, ‘Pict friend’, bishop of Candida Casa / Hwit Aerne ‘White House’ (Whithorn, Galloway) from 17 July 763, died #OTD in 776/7. Æthelberht succeeded him. 📸AOC Archaeology #medievalsky

Student unearths 2,000-year-old stone that shows Pictish face carving www.independent.co.uk/news/science...

The @oxembi.bsky.social is hosting a special lecture, Long Distance Travel from Early Medieval Britain by Prof @francescatinti.bsky.social & a workshop on Global Britain with Jörg Drauschke, Maria Duggan, @caitlinrgreen.bsky.social, @jk-viking.bsky.social & others. 14 & 15 October. All welcome.

Riccall, North Yorkshire. Richale 1086. 'Nook of land of a man called Rīca'. Old English personal name + halh. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. It is where Haraldr Sigurðsson and Tostig Godwineson moored their ships with their eyes on nearby York in 1066. 📸Reedy #medievalsky

Haraldr (III) Sigurðsson, king of Norway, and Tostig Godwineson, former ealdorman in Northumbria, sailed up the River Ouse with a fleet of 300 ships #OTD in 1066. Before entering the Humber they had harried the Northumbrian coast, setting Scarborough ablaze. #medievalsky

Toppled Angus Pictish stone gives up undiscovered centuries-old secrets www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/5333...

Theodore, archbishop of Cantuarabyrg (Canterbury), convened a council at a place called Haethfeld #OTD in 679. The English Church declared against monotheletism, reaffirming its faith in the orthodox belief that Christ had two wills. Christ in Majesty from the Codex Amiatinus #medievalsky

Sept 16: Feast of Nynia (Ninian) (C5th), British bishop and apostle associated with early church Candida Casa / Hwit Aerne, 'White House’, (Whithorn, Galloway). His shrine remains a popular pilgrimage-place. 📸AOC Archaeology #medievalsky

A stone depicting a bearded warrior was found during an archaeological dig at Govan Old Churchyard #OTD in 2023. The fragment is c.C9th. The dig was led by the University of Glasgow's Professor Stephen Driscoll and Clyde Archaeology. 📸Govan Heritage Trust #medievalsky

Sept 16: Feast of Laisrén mac Feradaig (†605), abbot of Iona. He served as superior at Columba's Dermag (Durrow, Ireland) before attaining the abbacy. Fergnae (Virgno) the Briton succeeded him. Book of Durrow 📸RTÉ #medievalsky

A gale caused six men of the community of Iona to drown #OTD in 691. The annals record a shipwreck 50 years earlier and a further drowning in 749. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky

Beyond the Wall: The Story of the Picts www.historyhit.com/beyond-the-w...

Sept 15: Feast of Mirin (Meadhran) (C7th), abbot. Reputedly a monk and disciple of Comgall (†602) at Bennchor (Bangor, County Down). He founded a monastery at Passeleth (Paisley). A chapel dedicated to him lies in ruins at Inchmurrin, the largest island in Loch Lomond. 📸Colin #medievalsky

The Silverdale Hoard was discovered by detectorist Darren Webster in a north Lancashire field #OTD in 2011. Made up of 201 silver artefacts, it is one of the largest Viking hoards ever found in the UK. 📸British Museum #medievalsky

The first objects of the West Yorkshire Hoard were found by detectorist Frank Andrusyk near Leeds #OTD in 2008. The early medieval hoard comprises four gold rings, one with a garnet, a gold brooch fragment, gold ingot fragment and lead spindle whorl. 📸Leeds Museums and Galleries #medievalsky

Niall Glúndub, high-king of Ireland, was defeated and slain in battle by Sigtryggr, Norse king of Dublin, near the town #OTD in 919. Niall was the son of Pictish princess Máel Muire; Sigtryggr would later rule York from 920/1-927. 📸National Museum of Ireland #medievalsky

Osred II was executed on the orders of Æthelred I, king of the Northumbrians, at a place called Aynburg #OTD in 792. The former king had made a furtive return from exile on the Isle of Man – then a British kingdom – but had been betrayed by his soldiers. #medievalsky

Selbach mac Ferchair, Lorn king of Dál Riata, slew his brother Ainbcellach in battle at Finglen #OTD 719. James E Fraser places it in the glen of Allt Braglenmore between Loch Scamadale and Loch na Speinge. Ainbcellach had been deposed as king of Lorn in 698/9. 📸Patrick Mackie #medievalsky

Æthelstan, king of the English, from his vill at Buckingham, granted land in Wiltshire to one of his thegns #OTD in 934. Acting as a witness to the charter was Causantín (II) mac Áeda, king of Alba, having been cowed by Æthelstan’s campaign against the Scots. 📸Athelstan Museum #medievalsky

Coming next spring ... yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

It was lovely to attend the preview of the very impressive Treasure: History Unearthed Exhibition at the Museum of Liverpool this evening. Definitely worth a visit #archaeology #medievalsky will post more pics www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

Britain’s economy boomed after the Romans, Aldborough study reveals www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

Silver pectoral cross from the Galloway Hoard which was buried at the beginning of the 10th century & discovered by a metal-detectorist in 2014 at Balmaghie in Kirkcudbrightshire. Part of the collections at the National Museum of Scotland 📸 My own #FindsFriday #GallowayHoard

'The 870 Siege of Dumbarton' by Todd Ferguson among a series of talks at Largs Museum www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/2545534...

Join us on 4 and 5 October for our 2025 online conference! Two days of expert talks on Pictish art and craft - from recycled Roman silver to metalwork at Burghead and Rhynie, plus insights into Pictish weaponry, Sueno's Stone, two Caithness cross-slabs and Pictish bull carvings. Booking link below.

Ealdred, archbishop of York, died #OTD in 1069. He assumed a leading role among the English in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Hastings, and it was he who crowned William the Conqueror and his wife Matilda. Thomas of Bayeux succeeded him. 📸York Archaeological Trust #medievalsky

Sept 11: Feast of Conamail mac Faílbi (†710), abbot of Iona. From 707 he seems to have been co-abbot with his eventual successor, Dúnchad mac Cind Fháelad. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky

Well, @joeabercrombie.com has knocked it out of the park again. The characters, the dialogue, the action, the sarcasm, the pathos - so good it's obscene.

Sept 10: Feast of Finnian (†579) of Maighe Bile (Moville, Ireland), abbot. He learned at Droim Mór (Dromore, County Down) and Candida Casa, ‘White House’, (Whithorn, Galloway) pictured. Founder of monasteries, scholar and teacher, whose pupils included Columba. 📸AOC Archaeology #medievalsky

Morcar, former ealdorman in Northumbria, was among the captives William I ordered be freed shortly before the king of England passed away at Rouen, Normandy, #OTD in 1087. Sadly his son and successor William Rufus had him re-arrested and he died in captivity. 📸York Museums Trust #medievalsky

Great news!!! @waterstones.bsky.social are running a summer promotion offering 25% off a select list of upcoming books and mine is one of them!!! www.waterstones.com/book/the-hou...

The awe-inspiring Ruthwell Cross in Dumfries & Galloway, the most magnificent Anglian cross in Scotland. It is 17ft tall and was carved in the 700s at a time when the area was under the control of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot... #Scotland

Sept 8: Feast of Æthelburh (†647). Daughter of Æthelberht, king of the Cantware (the people of Kent). She married Edwin, king of the Northumbrians, and later founded a convent at Liminge (Lyminge, Kent). 📸BabelStone #medievalsky

Slightly diminish a book. Something Naughty This Way Comes

Frithuberht was consecrated bishop of Hagustaldes ham (Hexham) #OTD in 734. He also acted as the administrator of Lindisfarne while its bishop, Cynewulf, was in captivity. 📸Kevin Wilbraham #medievalsky

A Pictish ring was found by volunteer John Ralph during a University of Aberdeen-led dig at Burghead, Moray, #OTD in 2023. Professor Gordon Noble said it further indicated 'the high-status production of metalwork' at the Pictish power centre. 📸National Museums Scotland #medievalsky

Sept 7: Anniversary of Tilberht, bishop of Hagustaldes ham (Hexham) 781-9. One of the three bishops who consecrated Aldulf bishop of Mayo at Et Corabrige (Corbridge) in 786. Though called a saint in the chronicles he had no known cult. Æthelberht succeeded him. 📸Kevin Wilbraham #medievalsky

The Origins of Anglo-Saxon Towns: A Viking Gift? by Richard Hodges www.bloomsbury.com/uk/origins-o...

An early medieval hanging bowl its finder first mistook for a ‘rusty old bucket’ fetched £36,400 at auction #OTD in 2023. Chris Ulliott discovered the copper-alloy artefact during an organised dig in a field in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. 📸Timeline Auctions #medievalsky

UK night-shift workers when the Emergency Alerts test siren goes off on Sunday afternoon.

Sept 4: Feast of the translation of Cuthbert. Aldhun, first bishop of Dunholm (Durham), oversaw the relocation of the saint’s body from a wooden church to a grander stone building #OTD in 998. 📸Durham Cathdral #medievalsky

On publication day for The First King of England, enormous thanks to @princetonupress.bsky.social and Doug Young of PEW Literary for making it possible