Anglo-Saxon Heathen Timeline

The first historical mention of the Angle tribe is made by the Roman historian Tacitus. He describes them as worshippers of a goddesses called Nerthus, who they regard as the Earth Mother.

Given date for the landing in Britain of Hengist and Horsa, in three longships at Ebbesfleet.

Ælla arrives in Britain with three sons at Cymensora.

Æsc becomes the king of Kent, and rules for thirty four years.

Cerdic and his son Cynric arrive in Britain along with five ships, they land at Cerdicesora.

Given date for the arrival of the West Saxons in Britain at Cerdicesora.

Cerdic and Cynric rule the West Saxon Kingdom, and do battle at Cerdicesford.

Cerdic dies, his son, Cynric, rules for twenty six years.

Ida receives the Northumbrian kingdom. He reigns for twelve years.

Ceawlin becomes the West Saxon king and rules for thirty years. The Northumbrian kingdom falls into the hands of Ælla, after the passing of Ida.

Pope Gregory despatches St Augustine to England to convert the Heathen Anglo-Saxons.

St Augustine arrives in England on the Isle of Thanet, to preach the Christian religion to the Heathens. He arrives with Frankish translators, and other missionaries carrying a board, which carried the image of Jesus.

Pope Gregory urges Kentish king, Ethelbert, to supress all Heathenism within his kingdom, and destroy all Heathen temples.

St Augustine despatches bishop Melitus to preach baptism to the East Saxons, and their king, Saeberht.

King Ethelbert, the first Anglo-Saxon king to convert to Christianity, dies. Ethelberts Heathen son receives the Kentish kingdom.

Laurentius, the archbishop of Kent, goes to preach Christianity to Ethelberts son, who eventually converts.

Laurentius dies, and is buried beside St Augustine. After his death the bishop of London, Mellitus, receives the archbishopric. During this time the people of London lapse back into Heathenism, and remain so for many years.

Northumbrian King, Ethelfrith, is killed in battle by king Redwald of the East Angles. Edwin, son of Ælla, eventually receives the kingdom.

Bishop Paulinus baptizes the daughter of Northumbrian king, Edwin. Edwin himself is converted twelve months later.

After much debate with his kinsmen, king Edwin converts to Christianity. He is baptized on Easter day by bishop Paulinus. Edwin's chief Heathen priest, Coifi, desecrates his own pagan temple, and destroys it by fire when convinced to forsake his ancestral religion.

Paulinus also preaches Christianity to the people of Lindsey, where the first to convert is a man named Blecca.

King Edwin is killed in battle by king Penda, the Heathen Mercian king, at Hatfield chase on October 14th.

Osric, who was converted to Christianity by Paulinus, receives the Deiran kingdom. Bishop Birinus preaches the Christian religion to the West Saxons under their king, Cynegils.

The Heathen king, Oswald, receives the kingdom of Northumbria.

Cynegils, the West Saxon king. is converted to Christianity by bishop Paulinus in Dorchester.

Bishop Felix preaches the Christian faith to the East Angles.

In this year Bishop Birinus preaches the Christian faith to king Cuthred, and like Cwichelm, he is coverted in the city of Dorchester.

Kentish king Eadbald dies. His son, Ercenberht, receives the kingdom, and passes laws that outlaw all Heathen worship within his domain. His brother Ermenred, has two sons, who are said to have been martyred by a certain Thunor.

Ealdwulf, future East Anglian king, witnesses seeing the Heathen temple of king Redwald.

Northumbrian king Oswald, is killed by the Heathen Mercian king, Penda, at Maserfeld, in Southumbria on August 5th.

The Heathen Penda, drives the fellow Heathen Cenwalh, from his kingdom.

The Christian faith is preached amongst the Mercians.

Osiwu kills Penda, the last Heathen king of Mercia, at Winwidfeld.

During a severe outbreak of plague, the East Saxons revert back to the Heathen religion.

The Heathen Cadwalla, succeeds to the West Saxon throne



		Anglo-Saxon Heathen Timeline

	Although not covering each and every recorded event in Anglo-Saxon Heathen history, this is a timeline that gives a good and extensive account of the many events and happenings before the so called conversion of all the Anglo-Saxon people.

	98AD The first historical mention of the Angle tribe is made by the Roman historian Tacitus. He describes them as worshippers of a goddesses called Nerthus, who they regard as the Earth Mother. 449 AD Given date for the landing in Britain of Hengist and Horsa, in three longships at Ebbesfleet. 455 Death of Horsa in battle at Aegelsthrop. 477 Ælla arrives in Britain with three sons at Cymensora. 488 Æsc becomes the king of Kent, and rules for thirty four years. 495 Cerdic and his son Cynric arrive in Britain along with five ships, they land at Cerdicesora. 514 Given date for the arrival of the West Saxons in Britain at Cerdicesora. 519 Cerdic and Cynric rule the West Saxon Kingdom, and do battle at Cerdicesford. 530 Cerdic and Cynric land on the Isle of Wight. 534 Cerdic dies, his son, Cynric, rules for twenty six years. 547 Ida receives the Northumbrian kingdom. He reigns for twelve years. 560 Ceawlin becomes the West Saxon king and rules for thirty years. The Northumbrian kingdom falls into the hands of Ælla, after the passing of Ida. 568 Ceawlin and Cutha do battle with Ethelbert. 584 Cutha dies in battle. 588 Northumbrian King Ælla passes away. 592 Gregory receives the papacy in Rome. 593 Pope Gregory despatches St Augustine to England to convert the Heathen Anglo-Saxons. 597 St Augustine arrives in England on the Isle of Thanet, to preach the Christian religion to the Heathens. He arrives with Frankish translators, and other missionaries carrying a board, which carried the image of Jesus. 601 Pope Gregory urges Kentish king, Ethelbert, to supress all Heathenism within his kingdom, and destroy all Heathen temples. 604 St Augustine despatches bishop Melitus to preach baptism to the East Saxons, and their king, Saeberht. Pope Gregory dies. 611 Cynegils receives the West Saxon Kingdom. 616 King Ethelbert, the first Anglo-Saxon king to convert to Christianity, dies. Ethelberts Heathen son receives the Kentish kingdom. Laurentius, the archbishop of Kent, goes to preach Christianity to Ethelberts son, who eventually converts. Laurentius dies, and is buried beside St Augustine. After his death the bishop of London, Mellitus, receives the archbishopric. During this time the people of London lapse back into Heathenism, and remain so for many years. 617 Northumbrian King, Ethelfrith, is killed in battle by king Redwald of the East Angles. Edwin, son of Ælla, eventually receives the kingdom. 624 Archbishop Mellitus passes away. 626 Bishop Paulinus baptizes the daughter of Northumbrian king, Edwin. Edwin himself is converted twelve months later. 627 After much debate with his kinsmen, king Edwin converts to Christianity. He is baptized on Easter day by bishop Paulinus. Edwin's chief Heathen priest, Coifi, desecrates his own pagan temple, and destroys it by fire when convinced to forsake his ancestral religion. Paulinus also preaches Christianity to the people of Lindsey, where the first to convert is a man named Blecca. 632 King Eorpwald converts to Christianity. 633 King Edwin is killed in battle by king Penda, the Heathen Mercian king, at Hatfield chase on October 14th. 634 Osric, who was converted to Christianity by Paulinus, receives the Deiran kingdom. Bishop Birinus preaches the Christian religion to the West Saxons under their king, Cynegils. The Heathen king, Oswald, receives the kingdom of Northumbria. 635 Cynegils, the West Saxon king. is converted to Christianity by bishop Paulinus in Dorchester. 636 Cwichelm is converted to Christianity in Dorchester. Bishop Felix preaches the Christian faith to the East Angles. 639 In this year Bishop Birinus preaches the Christian faith to king Cuthred, and like Cwichelm, he is coverted in the city of Dorchester. 640 Kentish king Eadbald dies. His son, Ercenberht, receives the kingdom, and passes laws that outlaw all Heathen worship within his domain. His brother Ermenred, has two sons, who are said to have been martyred by a certain Thunor. 640's Ealdwulf, future East Anglian king, witnesses seeing the Heathen temple of king Redwald. 641 Northumbrian king Oswald, is killed by the Heathen Mercian king, Penda, at Maserfeld, in Southumbria on August 5th. 645 The Heathen Penda, drives the fellow Heathen Cenwalh, from his kingdom. 646 Cenwalh is baptized into the Christian faith. 653 The Christian faith is preached amongst the Mercians. 655 Osiwu kills Penda, the last Heathen king of Mercia, at Winwidfeld. 664 During a severe outbreak of plague, the East Saxons revert back to the Heathen religion. 685 The Heathen Cadwalla, succeeds to the West Saxon throne