
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England
'Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England ' Summary
The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, or An Ecclesiastical History of the English People is Bede's best-known work, completed in about 731. The first of the five books begins with some geographical background and then sketches the history of England, beginning with Julius Caesar's invasion in 55 BC. A brief account of Christianity in Roman Britain, including the martyrdom of St Alban, is followed by the story of Augustine's mission to England in 597, which brought Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons. The second book begins with the death of Gregory the Great in 604, and follows the further progress of Christianity in Kent and the first attempts to evangelise Northumbria. These encountered a setback when Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, killed the newly Christian Edwin of Northumbria at the Battle of Hatfield Chase in about 632. The setback was temporary, and the third book recounts the growth of Christianity in Northumbria under kings Oswald and Oswy. The climax of the third book is the account of the Council of Whitby, traditionally seen as a major turning point in English history. The fourth book begins with the consecration of Theodore as Archbishop of Canterbury, and recounts Wilfrid's efforts to bring Christianity to the kingdom of Sussex. The fifth book brings the story up to Bede's day, and includes an account of missionary work in Frisia, and of the conflict with the British church over the correct dating of Easter. Bede wrote a preface for the work, in which he dedicates it to Ceolwulf, king of Northumbria. The preface mentions that Ceolwulf received an earlier draft of the book; presumably, Ceolwulf knew enough Latin to understand it, and he may even have been able to read it. The preface makes it clear that Ceolwulf had requested the earlier copy, and Bede had asked for Ceolwulf's approval; this correspondence with the king indicates that Bede's monastery had excellent connections among the Northumbrian nobility.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
LatinPublished In
AD 731Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

The Venerable Bede
England
Bede also known as Saint Bede, The Venerable Bede, and Bede the Venerable (Latin: Beda Venerabilis), was an English monk at the monastery of St. Peter and its companion monastery of St. Paul in the Ki...
Books by The Venerable BedeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Popular History of Ireland, Book 09 by Thomas D'Arcy McGee
This book is the ninth volume in Thomas D'Arcy McGee's comprehensive history of Ireland, consisting of twelve books in total. It covers the early Stua...

Ancestors: A Novel by Gertrude Atherton
Set in Victorian England, "Ancestors" follows Flora, the daughter of a clergyman, who grapples with her social position and the limitations it places...

The Political History of France, 1789-1910 by Muriel O. Davis
This little book opens on the eve of the French Revolution. The government is crippled by financial mismanagement, ruled by a King who, in the author'...

Chronicles of Canada Volume 04 - Jesuit Missions: A Chronicle of the Cross in the Wilderness by Thomas Guthrie Marquis
These little books were designed to cover Canadian history in a scholarly and readable fashion. This volume, as suggested in the title, follows the Je...

The Normans in Europe by Arthur Henry Johnson
It is a comprehensive exploration of the Normans and their impact on Europe during the medieval period. Johnson's work delves into the origins of the...

Life of St. Paul by James Stalker
This biography delves into the life of Saint Paul, a prominent figure in the early Christian movement. It traces his journey from a zealous Pharisee w...

Stories of the Wars of the Jews by Charlotte Maria Tucker
Stories of the Wars of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus is a historical narrative spanning Jewish hist...

A Short History of Scotland by Andrew Lang
A Short History of Scotland is a concise introduction to the history of Scotland from Roman times to the last Jacobite rebellion, written by the autho...

Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism by Allen Putnam
The book delves into the history of witchcraft in New England, including the famous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Putnam argues that many of the so-call...

Cardinal Wolsey by Mandell Creighton
This book delves into the life and legacy of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a prominent figure during the reign of King Henry VIII. Creighton challenges the...
Reviews for Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England
No reviews posted or approved, yet...