Aebbe the Elder

St Æbbe the Elder
Born	c. 615 Northumbria, England
Died	683 Coldingham, Scotland
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	25 August

Saint Æbbe the Elder (c. 615 – 683) founded monasteries at Ebchester and St Abb's Head near Coldingham in Scotland.

Æbbe was the daughter of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia and Acha of Deira. Æthelfrith had invaded the neighbouring kingdom of Deira in 604, deposed Edwin of Northumbria, heir to the throne and brother of Acha, who fled into exile. To cement his claim to the throne of Deira, Æthelfrith took Princess Acha of the royal house of Deira as his wife. He united Deira with Bernicia thus becoming the first king of Northumbria.

Edwin took refuge in the court of King Rædwald of East Anglia, and with his support in 616, raised an army against Æthelfrith. In the subsequent battle, Æthelfrith was defeated and killed. Edwin then gained the throne of Northumbria. Edwin on the throne meant Northumbria was no longer safe for the children of Æthelfrith as they had a potential rival claim to the throne. Therefore, when Æbbe was still young she, her mother and brothers fled north to exile in the court of King Eochaid Buide of Dál Riata. It was during this time of exile in western Scotland that she and her brothers were converted to Christianity.

While the sons of Æthelfrith always represented a threat to Edwin, he was finally deposed by an alliance of the Mercian King Penda and the Welsh King Cadwallon. They raised an army against Edwin and killed him in battle in 633. Eanfrith, eldest son of Æthelfrith, and Æbbe's half-brother, returned as King of Bernicia, however he was double-crossed and murdered by Cadwallon. The year following Æthelfrith's son Oswald returned and drove the invaders from both Bernicia and Deira, thus establishing himself on the throne of Northumbria. He was however defeated and killed in battle, in 642, by Penda of Mercia, and was succeeded as king by his brother Oswiu.

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