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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Christopher Mislow asked: > Aside from the general passion for relic-filching, does anyone > happen to know why the remains of a monarch of East Anglia > ended up so far west (Hereford)? Graham Jones answered this in brief, but the details make a good story (or set of stories). By the time Ethelbert (d. 794) was murdered by Offa's order, Offa (d. 796) was effectively king of England south of the Humber. It seems that Ethelbert traveled, in considerable state, to Offa's palace, Villa Australis. Some believe that palace may have been located near Freens Court, Sutton St. Michael, Herefordshire (OS grid ref SO 519458), which is just a few miles north of Hereford. There are traces of some considerably large buildings there; see the geophysical/archaelogical survey at http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/reports/freens_court/ (An alternative name, or site, of the palace is given as Sutton Walls.) Here's some detail from the old Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05553a.htm) about Ethelbert's death and, er, afterlife: "Urged to marry, he declared his preference for a life of celibacy, but at length consented to woo Altrida (Alfrida), daughter of Offa, King of the Mercians. Leofrana foreboded evil and tried to dissuade Ethelbert; but in spite of an earthquake, an eclipse of the sun, and a warning vision, he proceeded from Bury St. Edmunds to Villa Australis, where Offa resided. On his arrival Altrida expressed her admiration for Ethelbert, declaring that Offa ought to accept him as suzerain. Cynethryth, the queen-mother, urged by hatred of Ethelbert, so poisoned Offa's mind against him, that he accepted the offer of a certain Grimbert to murder their guest. Ethelbert, having come for an interview with Offa, was bound and beheaded by Grimbert. The body was buried ignominiously, but, revealing itself by a heavenly light, was translated to the cathedral at Hereford, where many miracles attested Ethelbert's sanctity. The head was enshrined at Westminster Abbey. "The 'Chronicon' of John Brompton (fl. 1437) adds a few particulars: the body with the head was first buried on the banks of the Lugg [Herefordshire river, SO 5153]. On the third night the saint commanded one Brithfrid, a nobelman, to convey his relics to Stratus-way. During the journey the head fell out of the cart and healed a man who had been blind for eleven years. Finally the body was entombed at Fernley, the present Hereford. According to Brompton, Altrida became a recluse at Croyland. Offa repented of his sin (Matthew of Paris represents Offa as ignorant of the plot till after Ethelbert's murder), gave much land to the martyr, 'which the church of Hereford holds to the present day', founded St. Albans and other monasteries, and made his historic pilgrimage to Rome. "St. Ethelbert figures largely in the Missal, Breviary, and Hymnal of the Use of Hereford. His feast is on 20 May. Thirteen English churches, besides Hereford Cathedral, are dedicated in honour of Ethelbert; and one of the gateways of Norwich Cathedral bears his name." -- Another source helps answer the question, Why Hereford?: "Aethelbert was initially buried at Marden [a Herefordship village, SO 5247] 'amid supernatural manifestation'. Tradition says that such stories, added to the King's remorse, led Offa to remove the body to Hereford Cathedral where it was reinterred beneath an elaborate shrine. Wilfrid, a viceroy of King Egbert of Mercia, later built a noble church of stone around the grave, in about AD 825, and dedicated it to St. Mary and St. Aethelbert." From Cecil C.W. Aldin, Cathedrals and Abbey Churches of England (London, 1924) quoted by http://www.britannia.com/history/herefords/churches/herefordcath .html I'm geographically obsessed, sorry! Al Magary ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html