THE WRITING OF HISTORY AND THE POLITICAL UNIFICATION OF THE KINGDOM OF NORTHUMBRIA IN THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE (c. 601 – 793)

Abstract

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a source which began to be written in the 9th century until the year of 1153. This document is divided in seven manuscripts written in Anglo-saxon until the seventh, written both in Anglo-saxon and Latin. The document searches to describe the history of the British isles since the year on until 1154, when it ceases to be written. The Chronicle begins to be written in the court of Alfred, the Great (849 – 899), in Wessex. Our objective in this article is to analyze the passages referring to the kingdom of Northumbria, analyzing its unification along the kingdoms of Deira and Bernicia in the beginning of the 7th century until 793, when its registered the first passage of viking invasion in the island, considered a political disruption. The kingdom of Northumbria with its formation assigned in different moments in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is established as the biggest kingdom in territorial extension between the Anglo-saxon kingdoms of the period, holding some antagonism with Wessex, where departs the perspective of writing in the Chronicle. Therefore, we’ll analyze the relations of power between Wessex and Northumbria departing from the writing of history of Northumbria, comprehending questions like the narrative of the document and also the silences about the political situation of this kingdom.