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Warwickshire and the Eighth Century missions to Germany |
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Close up of reconstructed dwelling
© St Edmundsbury Borough Council / West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Trust |
Along with Lull’s family came his friends Burchard and Denehard. Their journey was prompted, a letter reveals, by the death of their parents and other relatives. Without a strong social network at home it seems that they were forced to join their friends abroad. Cyneburg, the abbess of Inkberrow, supported her pupils’ travels and gave Burchard a sixth-century Italian copy of Jerome’s commentary on Ecclesiastes – which can still be seen in Würzburg – to comfort him abroad.
When he arrived in c. 740, Burchard was made bishop of Würzburg by Boniface. Together they worked to establish new standards of piety in Europe and in 746 they wrote a joint letter to King Ethelbald of Mercia chastising him for his immoral behaviour. Between 741 and his death in 752, Burchard achieved a (perhaps unlikely) prominence and in 750 helped the Frankish Carolingian family legitimise their control over Northern Europe. Denehard, meanwhile, carved out a reputation as a reliable messenger and carried many letters between the Anglo-Saxons and Rome. He also aided Boniface in helping former serfs to establish new lives for themselves.
Anglo-Saxon woman weaving
© Angelcynn |
The involvement of the Mercians in Germany affected their homeland. Abbot Tyccea wrote to Lull saying he remembered the missionaries in his prayers and Lull wrote to others back home hoping they would do the same. Books were copied in monasteries and sent to aid Lull’s work. Exotic goods like frankincense, cinnamon and pepper were sent home by the missionaries. King Ethelbald received a falcon, two hawks and some weapons, while other kings approached Lull with a view to obtaining the ear of Frankish kings.
Words: James Palmer
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