Botwine Explained

Botwine
Titles:Abbot of Ripon
Death Date:c. 785
Major Shrine:Ripon and Peterborough
Feast Day:unknown}}

Botwine (died 785 or 786) was a Northumbrian saint venerated at Ripon and Peterborough. He is well documented as a priest,[1] and latter Abbot of Ripon.[2] [3] [4] [5] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recension E, recorded his death in the 780s (probably for 786) in one of three Ripon abbatial obits derived from a chronicle of Northumbrian origin.[6] Following the death of St Botwine in 786AD, his replacement, Ealdberht was elected and consecrated Abbot. Ealdberht died in 788AD,[7] and was himself succeeded as Abbot by St. Sigered of Ripon.[8] [9]

The late 10th- and early 11th-century writer Byrhtferth of Ramsey in his Vita sancti Oswaldi claimed that Oswald of Worcester, Archbishop of York, discovered Botwine's relics at the monastery of Ripon. Oswald made a magnificent reliquary in which he placed the relics of Botwine with Wilfrid, Tiatberht, Alberht, Sigered and Vilden.[10] This account is described by historian Michael Lapidge as "problematical" on other points.[11] as it is known that in the 12th-century Peterborough Abbey also possessed some relics of Botwine.[12]

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Notes and References

  1. Byrhtferth.VitOswaldi v.9
  2. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (versions D, & E),785
  3. Byrhtferth.VitOswaldi v.9
  4. Botwine.Ep.T131(Letter to Lull)
  5. Northern Annals.First Set 53.
  6. Lapidge (ed.), Byrhtferth, p. 171, n. 99; Whitelock (ed.), English Historical Documents, p. 180
  7. Historia Regum (NorthernAnnals).FirstSet 53 (786)
  8. Byrhtferth.VitOswaldi v.9
  9. NorthernAnnals.FirstSet 54
  10. Byrhtferth.VitOswaldi v.9
  11. Blair, "Handlist", p. 518; Lapidge (ed.), Byrhtferth, pp. 170–71, comment at n. 97
  12. Blair, "Handlist", p. 518