Werburga, St

(d. 3 February 699) Born into a Christian royal family from the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent, she was a nun for most of her life. She became Abbess of…

(d. 3 February 699) Born into a ChristianChristian Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church to designate all members of the church. royal family from the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent, she was a nun for most of her life. She became AbbessAbbess Head of a community of nuns of Ely, following her mother, grandmother and great-aunt in this position – the latter was Etheldreda, first Abbess of Ely and a former queen of NorthumbriaNorthumbria Northumbria was an early medieval Anglian kingdom in what is now Northern England and South Scotland.. She died in Staffordshire and miracles were recorded at her tomb, but her relics were translated to Chester in 875 under threat of VikingViking Customarily refers to the Scandinavian explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, and settled in wide areas of Europe and the North Atlantic islands from the late eighth to the mid-eleventh century.There is some debate over the meaning of this word, which is attested but rarely used in the early medieval period. It was revived as a term in Scandinavian languages in the 17th century and in English in the early 19th. In contemporary sources it refers to a raider or pirate, often in association with ships and predatory activity. Some modern scholars try to keep to this restricted definition; others are happy with a wider range of meaning, applying the word to Scandinavians and their culture from approximately 790 to the mid or late 11th century, especially outside the Scandinavian homelands. raids, and she became recognised as the patron saintPatron Saint A saint chosen or regarded as a protector of or intercessor for a particular place, church, person, place, or occupation. of that city.