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Yeavering Saxon Royal Palace: Queen Ethelburga
Queen Ethelburga was largely responsible for the introduction of Christianity to Northumbria. Ethelburga (also known
as Aedilburh, Aethelburga or Tata) was a Kentish princess and the daughter of Ethelbert, the King of Kent.
King Edwin of Northumbria sought her hand in marriage and this was only granted on the
condition that Ethelburga and her household be allowed to continue practising Christianity in Northumbria. It was
also agreed that Edwin himself might consider converting to Christianity. So it was, through Ethelburga, that
Christianity came to the north of England. To help convert the local Northumbrians, Ethelburga was accompanied by her
chaplain, Paulinus. After Edwin's death in 633 she returned to Kent with Paulinus and
founded the nunnery of Lyming, which she ruled until her death in 647.
We do not know what Ethelburga looked like, but we can speculate based on archaeological evidence and contemporary
drawings. Because Ethelburga was from Kent, her style of clothing and jewellery may have been slightly different to
those worn by the people who lived in and around Yeavering at that time. In addition, her Christian religion also
encouraged her to adopt a modest style of dress, which covered her arms and head.
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