From The Depths Of Dark Age Britain

Another reshoot, this time of my bronze styca of King Eanred, who ruled the Kingdom of Northumbria from roughly 810-850 AD.

This coin has some provenance:

Ex Bolton Percy Hoard (1847); Ex William Fennell Collection; Ex "Property of a Nobleman" Collection (Christies Auction, 14 April 1981), lot 119; Ex Peter Moffat Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 286), lot 574

Currently in the VisigothKing Collection



Obv: EANRED REX + around a cross
Rev: MONNE dot + around a cross (Monne was the moneyer)
Mint: York (struck 810-850 AD)
Ref: Spink 862
Size: 0.98 gr., 13 mm wide

After the Romans left Britain in 410 AD, the Romano-British were left to fend for themselves from hostile tribes north of Hadrian's Wall (still in use at this time) and raiders from Hibernia (Ireland). The Britons soon turned to the Angles and Saxons for help, but this proved to be a mistake when the barbarians later revolted. Despite setbacks (such as Badon Hill), the Anglo-Saxons were able to make themselves masters of most of England and establish several major and minor kingdoms, two of which called Bernicia and Deira would merge in the 7th century to form the Kingdom of Northumbria.

Not very much is known of Eanred or his reign. The dates of his reign mean he would have been contemporary with Charlemagne, his son and successor Louis the Pious, and his grandson Charles the Bald, across the channel in Frankish Gaul. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he agreed to submit to King Egbert of Wessex after the latter invaded Northumbria. In an unrelated event, Frankish sources claim Eanred's father had been ousted years earlier, then later received by Charlemagne and the pope, and soon returned to claim his throne with Frankish help.

By the late 8th century AD, Northumbria had fallen into a decline, and was not as powerful or influential as it had been in the past. It was during these years that Northumbria became the first victim of the Vikings, when they attacked and pillaged the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in 793. From then on these new enemies further terrorized monasteries and other targets, their attacks becoming more frequent as they expanded. In 867, Northumbria became a subject kingdom of the Vikings, who propped up a puppet king of their own.

Map of Northumbria (from Wikipedia):