Aldhun of Durham

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Aldhun of Durham (also Aldhun of Lindisfarne, Ealdhun ; * around 959, † 1018 ) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Lindisfarne in Chester-le-Street from 990 to 995 and after the relocation and renaming of the bishopric from 995 to 1018 Bishop of Durham .

Life

Aldhun was born around 959 and came from a noble family. He entered a monastery and became a monk . In 990 he was elected and consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne. From 882 the bishops resided in Chester-le-Street in exile.

In the spring of 995 Vikings made the area unsafe and Aldhun had the monastery with the relic of Saint Cuthbert evacuated to Ripon based on a vision. After three or four months the situation had calmed down, but Aldhun and the monks did not return to Chester-le-Street, but were led to Durham by a heavenly sign.

Uhtred , who later became Ealdorman of Northumbria, helped the monks clear the area for the new cathedral planned by Bishop Aldhun. It was probably at this time that Uhtred married Aldhun's daughter Ecgfrida, who brought some land from church property with her as a dowry. Durham has been the seat of bishops since that time and the title has also been changed to Bishop of Durham. The new cathedral was consecrated on September 4, 998.

Aldhun died of a broken heart in 1018 after serving 29 years in office when he heard of the terrible losses of the Northumbrians in the Battle of Carham against the Scots.

swell

  • Symeon of Durham , History of the Church of Durham
  • Symeon of Durham, Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b c d e History of the Church of Durham, chap. XXXV ff.
  2. Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum
predecessor Office successor
Elfdig Bishop of Lindisfarne
990–995
-
- Bishop of Durham
995-1018
Eadmund