An Overview
History is one of the most popular books written by the Venerable Bede. The text is known to different people by several titles. It is known as Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, and Bede’s History. The book not only explores the religious history associated with the Anglo- Saxons, but also their political past.
It is used by many historians who are keen on gathering information about the background of the people in this region. The book will also be of great importance to an individual who wishes to learn the history of the Romans and the Britons. Among other things, Bede uses the book to outline the geography of the land. In the text, the famous historian pays attention to past conflicts that existed between the Celtic Christians and the Romans.
Political upheavals, especially those that occurred in the 600’s, are also discussed in the book. For this reason, ‘The History’ provides modern scholars with a comprehensive history of the region. Most events that are highlighted in the book are political and religious. In some instances, the author goes to the extent of outlining the dates when major historical events took place, as well as the venues where they occurred.
The information used to write the book is obtained from a variety of sources. The sources include, among others, government publications, records from several monasteries, data from early churches, as well as oral narrations obtained from the Romans and the Britons. The variety of the sources used in the book shows the extent of research that was conducted by Bede before compiling the text.
As a result, the book is still considered by many scholars as a significant piece of art showcasing the historical background of the Anglo-Saxons. ‘The History’ has, for example, been translated to several languages across the globe to help professionals in this field to better understand the history behind the English people and the Romans, their politics, and religious beliefs.
However, Bede is considered to have been more of a religious man than a historian. As a result, many people feel that his book is full of religious biases and may not address issues in the past with an open mind. His political affiliations and close relationship with the English people increase his biases.
For this reason, the text appears to lack objectivity to a certain extent. Objectivity is important when writing historical texts since it details past accounts as they existed without prejudice.
In this paper, the author is going to analyze ‘The History’ from a historical perspective. The various books in the text will be reviewed, together with the source material and references used by Bede to write it. The reliability of the book and criticisms made by scholars in the field will also be assessed. Finally, the contributions that ‘The History’ has made to historiography and the study of history, in general, will be critically analyzed.
A Critical Analysis of Books in ‘The History’
‘The History’ is composed of five separate books. Each of the books addresses key issues touching on the history of Britain.
Book 1
In Book 1, Bede attempts to narrate the history of Britain and Ireland and the people who inhabited the land. The section also talks of the ethnic groups living in Britain and their occupations, especially the Romans. The arrival of foreigners in the land is also highlighted. Caius Julius Caesar is identified as the first Roman to come to Britain. The Scots and Picts invasion is also outlined, as well as the misery that befell the Britons as a result of this intrusion.
According to Bede, the Britons requested for help from the Romans, who withdrew from the conflict years later. The arrival of the Saxons in the land is also described. The book serves as a good source of historical information concerning the different groups of people that previously inhabited the land, as well as the invaders.
The book outlines the religious beliefs of the Britons and how Christianity came into existence. The history of the introduction of Christianity in Britain begins with King Lucius conversion to this faith. According to Bede, Christians suffered persecution from the Pelagian Heresies, the Arabs, the Romans, the Lupus, and the Germanus missionaries. The history associated with the English church is illustrated right from chapter 23 of the book.
St. Augustine’s mission of 587 AD is identified by Bede as the earliest attempt to introduce Christianity to Britain. As one of the pioneer priests, St. Augustine’s efforts to bring Christianity into the land were largely seen. As a result, he rose to the rank of a Bishop. The history of the great famine is also reviewed in this book.
The famine prompted the Britons to drive barbarians out of their land. Also, the book introduces the reader to the miracles performed in Britain in the past. Such miracles include the one involving the restoration of sight to a blind girl by Bishop Germanus.
Book II
Book II details the continuation of the efforts to introduce Christianity to Britain. The book describes Gregory as the founder of the mission. St. Augustine is charged with the responsibility of negotiating with the leaders of the British Church with regards to Paschal. However, he fails in this task. His failure to reach an understanding with the leaders is attributed to the fact that he was alleged to have prophesied a disaster that would befall the land.
His prophecy is realized following the battle of Chester. However, the Mellitus is successful in the evangelization of the Saxons living in the East. In the period around 605, Augustine died and was succeeded by Laurentius. The latter carries on with his predecessor’s quest to unite the churches of the Celtics. The efforts to achieve this union were, however, futile as well.
In spite of the successful introduction of Christianity to Britain, the death of Sabert in Essex and Ethelbert in Kent in 616 dealt a devastating blow to the missionary effort in the two provinces. The deaths of the two missionaries led to a pagan-like reaction among the people living in the two regions.
Mellitus and Justus resorted to taking refuge in the continent. Laurentius was tempted to follow the two, but a vision advises him otherwise. His stay in Britain was instrumental in the restoration of Christianity in the country. However, the people of Essex clung to paganism. The book further discusses the death of Laurentius and how he was succeeded by Mellitus.
One of the greatest breakthroughs in missionary work is the union between King Edwin and Ethelberg. The latter was the princess of Kentish. The union brought to convert the people of Northumbria to the new religion. The conversion was achieved through the preaching of Paulinus. Evidence of how marriage leads to the spread of Christianity is obtained from a letter written by Pope Boniface to King Edwin.
Earpwald, the king of East Anglia, together with his people, was also converted through the influence of King Edwin. However, the success of these events is short-lived following the death of Earpwald. The people of East Anglia lapse into paganism. The situation persisted for a period of three years until Christianity was finally restored in the province through the efforts of Bishop Felix. At the time, the region was under the leadership of King Sigbert.
The book also talks of how Paulinus continued with his missionary work in Lindsey after having successfully converted the people of Northumbria. At the same time, Honorius succeeded Justus at Canterbury.
The evidence used to support this assertion is obtained from a number of Roman letters addressed to the Church of Britain. The book, however, ends on a sad note. It concludes with the overthrow of King Edwin, followed by his death. The tragic events occur in 633 during the battle of Hatfield.
Book III
At the beginning of the book, the mission work has been halted in Northumbrian following Oswald’s triumph at Heavenfield in 634. However, Christianity is reintroduced in the region through the help of the Celtic missionaries. The missionaries were sent from Lona following Oswald’s request. The book goes ahead to show how Oswald worked closely with Aidan to promote evangelization. The section also analyzes Oswald and Aidan.
In addition, it reviews the engagement between Deira and Bernicia. The merger was brought about by Oswald. In chapter seven of the book, the reader is introduced to the entry of a new missionary group.
Pope Honorius sent Birinus to Britain. Birinus successfully converts the West Saxon people. The baptism of Cynegils, their king, follows this conversion. A ‘see’ was also established in Oxfordshire at Dorchester. The see was, however, transferred to Winchester when King Cynegils was succeeded by Coinwalch.
The book states that in 640, Eadbald was succeeded by Earconbert as the new King of Kent. Earconbert was determined to ensure that idolatry is abolished in the region. During the time, Bede informs that Earcongota, Earconbert’s daughter, alongside many other English ladies born at the time, joined the religion in Gaul.
At the time, Britain had a small number of converts. Chapter 9 introduces the death of Oswald, which occurred at Maserfelth in 642. He was replaced by Oswin in Deira and by Oswy in Bernicia. Aidan’S death follows shortly after that.
In chapter 18, King Sigbert is seen as having a great interest in education. He retires from leadership to a monastery. He is, however, engaged in war with the Mercians. In 654, Honorius was succeeded by Deusdedit as Canterbury’s Archbishop. A new Northumbrian prince backed the efforts to promote Christianity in the region. In 653, the people of Middle Angles, who were occupying Mercia, were converted.
Alchfrid played a significant role in bringing Panda into the new faith. Four priests were dispatched to the people of Middle Angles. Their major responsibility was to preach and baptize the people living in the region. The priests were Betti, Daruma, Cedd, and Adda. Daruma became the new Bishop of the Mercians and Middle Angles. King Sigbert of Essex got word of how King Oswy, his friend, was being praised by many people.
The praises are usually evident during a preaching session by Cedd. As a result, Sigbert and his people are converted for the second time. Cedd rose to the position of Bishop. Suidhelm succeeds Sigbert following his tragic death. Cedd dies after suffering from a plague in 664.
During the time, major political events were taking place in North Britain. In the book, Bede states that Penda was defeated by Oswy at Winwaed. Oswy then established his rule in the region. The people of Mercia were then introduced to Christianity. However, the efforts by Oswy to promote the spread of Christianity were futile. The Mercians rebelled against Christianity and recognized Wuifhere, Penda’s son, as their King.
In chapter 25 of the book, Bede introduces the Synod of Whitby. Whitby was a champion of the rule of the Catholic Church. Any opposing party had no option but to confirm or retire from Whitby. According to Bede, devotion and self-denial were some of the greatest values observed amongst the missionaries originating from Celtic. Wighard was ordered to go to Rome by Egbert and Oswy.
He was required to represent Canterbury as the Archbishop of the Church of England. Following the death of Wighard, Pope Vitalian put plans underway to find a replacement for the post of Archbishop of the Church of England. The book ends on a sad note following the plague of 664. Mercia becomes the new mission center. King Wulfhere sends Bishop Jaruman on a mission aimed at bringing the East Saxons to Christianity.
Book IV
The bookmarks the successful conversion of the entire England population to Christianity. Only one kingdom, the Isle of Wight, was left out of the new faith. What was needed was an organization in the Church of England. The task to organize the church was entrusted to Theodore of Tarsus. He was given the rank of consecrated Archbishop of the Church of England. After he was assigned this responsibility, he departs for Canterbury, where he arrives in 669.
He works alongside Abbot Hadrian to introduce the new faith. The two particularly target education departments. The book also introduces the reader to a key political event that took place during that time. The event involved the death of Oswy in Northumbria in 670. He was succeeded by Egfrid. The death of Egbert of Kent occurred in 673. He was succeeded by Hlothere.
In 673, the first provincial council was convened in England. The council served a very important purpose. It reinforced the autonomy and strength of the Church of England. The meeting came to be popularly known as the Council of Hertford. Theodore presided over the occasion. The diocese of East Anglican is divided around the same time. The people of Essex, who were prone to lapsing into paganism, became staunch Christians.
At the time, they were under the leadership of King Sebbi. Earconwald was the bishop in charge of Essex. Bishop Earconwald is remembered for his many miraculous deeds. He was also the founder of many monasteries, such as those in Barking and Chertsey. Ethelburg, Earconwald’s sister, ruled over Barking. A number of miraculous deeds were associated with her monastery.
Theodore continued with his ambition to organize the Church of England. His policy entailed increasing the number of bishops to improve the church’s coverage. The diocese of Northumbrian was subsequently subdivided. Each of the new dioceses was put under a bishop. Wilfrid was expelled from his evangelism responsibilities.
In this book, Bede takes the reader a step back to shed more light on the role that Wilfrid played in promoting evangelism in England. Prior to his expulsion, he had served the people of South Saxon. He extends his evangelistic responsibilities to the people of Isle of Wight. Through his efforts, entire England was converted to Christianity.
In the book, Bede reports that a council meeting was held at Hatfield in 680. The resolution of the meeting was meant to unite the Church of England with other continental churches. Bede composes a hymn in honor of Ethelthryth, the Queen of Egfrid. The fight between Northumbria and Mercia is terminated. It comes to an end with the help of Theodore.
Towards the end of the book, Bede introduces the reader to a brief history of Northumbrian. The history of several legends in the land is given. Such legends include Caedmon the great poet, Abbess of Whitby, and Hilda. Bede concludes the book by giving a history of Egfrid’s invasion into Picts and Ireland.
According to Bede, Egfrid was defeated in a battle that led to his death and the fall of Northumbria in 685. Aldfrid succeeded him as the new king. Hlothere, the King of Kent died around the same time. His death led to widespread anarchy across the kingdom. Peace was restored after he was succeeded by King Wictred.
Book V
Bede introduces the audience to the book with a history of the holy Ethelwald. He was Cuthbert’s successor as the Anchorite of Fame. He is remembered for having performed miracles at Fame following his intercession efforts. Bede also introduces the reader to John of Beverley. The latter was the Bishop of Hexham.
Many miracles are also linked to him. In the seventh chapter of the book, a story is told of King Caedwalla of Wessex. After years of wars and bloodshed, the King visited Rome, where he received his baptism in 689. However, he died immediately after he is admitted to the church. King In succeeded him. I also died in Rome. Theodore’s death followed in 690. He was succeeded at Canterbury by Bertwald in 693.
At the time, Bede informs that many Englishmen joined evangelism efforts outside the country through missionaries. The people of Ireland were the most involved in these activities. Bede believes that the active involvement of the people of Ireland in evangelical work is as a result of their close contact with the residents of Celtic.
He informs that a narrative was provided of the efforts made by Egbert to introduce the new religion to Germany. However, no success was recorded in Wilbert. However, Wilbrord’s missionary attempts in Germany led to the successful conversion of several tribes in Germany.
Bede highlights the issue of the ‘Holy Places’, a book by Abbot and Adamnan of Lona. The book was used to help the people of Northern Ireland to embrace the new religion. It provides information on the demise of Aldfrid, King of Northumbria. It also highlights Osred’s assumption of the throne in 705. During the time, the diocese of South Saxon was divided into Sherborne and Winchester.
The two regions were assigned a bishop for the first time. The bishops took over all religious matters in South Saxon. Daniel was appointed to head Winchester, while Aldhelm headed Sherborne. In 709, Bishop Wilfrid died. Bede narrates Wilfrid’s life in this book. Acca, one of Bede’s friends, succeeded Wilfrid. Albinus took the role of the spiritual leader at St. Augustine’s. He did this after the death of Hadrian.
Bede’s book goes further to narrate the people of Northern Picts embraced Roman rule. To support this claim, Bede uses information from a letter to the King of Pictish. The text is written by Jarrow and Wearmouth. Lona yielded to the Catholic faith and was converted by the Romans.
Bede informs that Egbert died in 729. Around the same period, Wictred, the ruler of Kent, died and was succeeded by his son. It is in this book that Bede concludes his history. He concludes by furnishing the reader with information on the history of the relationship that existed between the people of Britain, the Picts, and the Scots.
References and Source Materials used in ‘The History’
Bede uses a number of sources to compose his book ‘The History’. The author obtained the information given in the text from the records kept by early churches, government writings, monasteries, and oral narrations. Christianity is a major theme in the book. As a result, the early churches served as a major source of information for Bede. The Pope and Bishops maintained communication with the missionaries in Britain.
Letters were one of the most efficient ways of passing information at the time. Bede has used the contents of some of these letters to explain to the readers the messages that were being passed.
Through such letters, the policies adopted by the mission heads, the bishops, and the Pope with regards to the spread of faith are made evident. From the monasteries, Bede gets information on the progress that was being made in the spread of faith throughout the land.
Government writings serve as a useful source of information for the book. The writings are of great importance since they help explain the history of the political landscape in Britain. The reader can acknowledge the policies adopted by the kings. The history of aggressive behavior between the kingdoms is also likely to have been obtained from government records.
Oral narratives are another reliable source of information for Bede. The traditions of the people are normally passed on from one generation to the other. Most of the traditions are conveyed through oral narratives, such as legends. The narratives depict events that occurred in the past.
Reliability, Criticism, and Refutations Associated with ‘The History’
The book is reliable and gives a detailed account of the history of Britain. The author, Bede, gathers information from a variety of sources to write the text. The sources are valid and are creditworthy. Bede lived around the time he was writing about. As such, he is in a position to accurately narrate the historical occurrences. Some of the characters described in the book, such as Acca, were Bede’s friends.
He can write about the existence of persons that he had interacted with. The author is also one of the English monks of his time. He is well versed with the history of Christianity. With his experience as a monk at the time, he effectively follows the history of conversion among the English people.
His position in the Church of England also grants him easy access to the sources of information used to write the book. The sources include records kept by monasteries and early churches. He is also able to interact with other men of faith before him.
Critics, however, challenge Bede’s work ‘The History.’ They think that his political and religious affiliations are likely to influence his reasoning and judgment. As an English monk, he is prone to personal biases. His faith is also likely to make him lose his objectivity when illustrating the history of the introduction of Christianity.
For example, he states that through the efforts of Wilfrid, the whole of Britain receives faith. The statement is not entirely true since not every individual was converted to Christianity. Wilfrid’s successor, Acca, was a close friend to Bede. The close relationship between the two is made clear in Book V. Bede’s political biases is seen in the manner in which he pays a lot of attention to Northumbrian and Kent.
However, there are no refutations evident in the book. Bede defends his arguments. To this end, valid sources of information are used. The sources of data are consistent and do not show any contradiction. At the time Bede wrote his book, there were very few books on England. As a result, his text is viewed as one of the most valuable sources of British history, especially when it comes to the introduction of Christianity.
The Contributions of Bede’s Works to the Study of History in General
In his book, Bede illustrates the geographical history of Britain. The reader is made to appreciate the physical features that existed in the region at the time. The Venerable Bede also introduces the historical demarcations of the land. At the time, the country was made up of different kingdoms that had their forms of leadership.
The book mentions some of the areas where major historical events took place. Some of these locations, such as Kent, are popular to date. With the help of the book, the reader is in a position to appreciate the developments that have occurred in these areas over the years.
In the text, Bede takes his audience through the history of the people of Britain. The book describes various aspects of these residents, such as their religious and political existence. Before the introduction of Christianity in the region, the people of Britain were largely pagans. They resisted the introduction of the new faith at the beginning.
However, they are later successfully converted. From a political perspective, Bede analyzes the leadership structures that existed in the land in the past years. He outlines the kingdoms that made up the country. Bede also highlights the leadership structure of these regimes. The activities of the kingdoms and their relationship with each other are also given.
Conclusion
In his book, Bede outlines the history of the introduction of Christianity to Britain. The spread of this faith is the major theme addressed in the text. The historian addresses the problems encountered by the missionaries in their efforts to spread the faith.
The Roman Catholics and the Celtic missionaries are the two major groups of evangelists in Britain. Following the successful conversion of the people of England, some of them join missionaries. They work hard to preach faith in the neighboring continents.
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