In the 7th century, the Angles of Northumbria fought their way north, taking lands up to the Firth of Forth. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes had invaded post-Roman Britain from mainland Europe. The pagan Anglo-Saxons were gradually converted to Christianity during the 7th century. The great Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf tells of a pagan hero but it was written by a Christian scribe.
The Angles set up monasteries in the Borders and converted the people to Christianity. At Hoddam, near Dumfries, the Anglians built a wooden monastery with posts, wattle and panels.
The Ruthwell Cross, in Dumfries and Galloway, is a spectacular Anglian high cross. The cross has verses from 'The Dream of the Rood' carved into it in Old English runes and Latin. The Kingdom of Rheged was annexed by the Northumbrians c AD 730.
The Angles’ plan to extend their territory northward into Pictland was halted in AD 685 at the Battle of Dunnichen when they were defeated by the Picts. So the Firth of Forth remained their northern boundary until what had been Northumbria became part of England under Alfred the Great's successors. In 975, King Edgar of England ceded the land between the Forth and Tweed to the Scottish King, Kenneth II.
The Angles would eventually give their name to England - the 'land of the Angles'.
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Listen to the Hymn to St Nicholas, written by St Godric, played on the Pictish harp.
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