Aebbe the Younger
Encyclopedia
For the earlier Abbess of Coldingham, see Æbbe the Elder.
Saint Æbbe of Coldingham [also Ebbe, Aebbe, Abb], sometimes styled as "the Younger", (died 870) was an Abbess of Coldingham Priory
in south-east Scotland
. There are several local Scottish legends associated with Æbbe. However, little of historical value is known about her and her existence has been brought into doubt by some historians.
The most often recounted legend is of Æbbe the Younger and her nuns mutilating
themselves in the attempt to preserve their chastity from a pillaging Viking
horde. There is no contemporary record of this event happening. The first documentary evidence of this attack dates from the 14th century writings of Matthew Paris
where he gives the year of the attack as 870. However, it is believed that the monastery at Coldingham
had by then been abandoned for nearly 200 years, and historians have been unable to identify any raid on the coast of south-east Scotland for that year. The legend may be the origin of the phrase 'cutting off the nose to spite the face
'.
It may be that Paris confused the better known Æbbe the Elder
with her pupil, Saint Ætheldreda
. Etheldreda, after graduating from Æbbe's tutelage, founded a religious site
at Ely
. It is recorded that, in 870, the Vikings active in East Anglia
sacked Ætheldreda's foundation. Thus a second Abbess Æbbe has been erroneously created to explain the fact that the attack happened nearly 200 years after the death of Æbbe the Elder.
Saint Æbbe of Coldingham [also Ebbe, Aebbe, Abb], sometimes styled as "the Younger", (died 870) was an Abbess of Coldingham Priory
Coldingham Priory
Coldingham Priory was a house of Benedictine monks. It lies on the south-east coast of Scotland, in the village of Coldingham, Berwickshire. Coldingham Priory was founded in the reign of David I of Scotland, although his older brother and predecessor King Edgar of Scotland had granted the land of...
in south-east Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. There are several local Scottish legends associated with Æbbe. However, little of historical value is known about her and her existence has been brought into doubt by some historians.
The most often recounted legend is of Æbbe the Younger and her nuns mutilating
Self-harm
Self-harm or deliberate self-harm includes self-injury and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms are used in the more recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral terminology...
themselves in the attempt to preserve their chastity from a pillaging Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
horde. There is no contemporary record of this event happening. The first documentary evidence of this attack dates from the 14th century writings of Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire...
where he gives the year of the attack as 870. However, it is believed that the monastery at Coldingham
Coldingham
Coldingham is a historic village in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, on Scotland's southeast coastline, north of Eyemouth.As early as AD 660, Coldingham was the site of a religious establishment of high order, when it is recorded that Etheldreda, the queen of Egfrid, became a nun at the Abbey of...
had by then been abandoned for nearly 200 years, and historians have been unable to identify any raid on the coast of south-east Scotland for that year. The legend may be the origin of the phrase 'cutting off the nose to spite the face
Cutting off the nose to spite the face
"Cutting off the nose to spite the face" is an expression used to describe a needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem: "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face" is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the...
'.
It may be that Paris confused the better known Æbbe the Elder
Aebbe the Elder
Saint Æbbe the Elder founded monasteries at Ebchester and St Abb's Head near Coldingham in Scotland.-Early life:Æbbe was a princess, the daughter of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia and Acha of Deira. Æthelfrith had invaded the neighbouring kingdom of Deira in 604. Assuming the throne, he united Deira...
with her pupil, Saint Ætheldreda
Æthelthryth
Æthelthryth is the proper name for the popular Anglo-Saxon saint often known, particularly in a religious context, as Etheldreda or by the pet form of Audrey...
. Etheldreda, after graduating from Æbbe's tutelage, founded a religious site
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
at Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
. It is recorded that, in 870, the Vikings active in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
sacked Ætheldreda's foundation. Thus a second Abbess Æbbe has been erroneously created to explain the fact that the attack happened nearly 200 years after the death of Æbbe the Elder.