Medieval Lincoln

The Lindum Colonia fell into decline after the departure of Roman Legions from Britain, but remained a viable community with a church dedicated to St. Paul. In fact, it became its own kingdom, the Anglo-Saxomn kingdom of Lindsey. Its presence on the east coast made it a landing spot for generations of Angles.

It had a series of about a dozen and a half kings until it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Mercia in the 8th century. We have only a series of names for them, and none can be verified. There is a curious note about one of them. Jacob Grimm, the linguist and philologist older brother of Wilhelm of Brothers Grimm fame, claimed that the 7th century saint Benedict Biscop was the son of one of those kings, named Beda Bubbing.

By the 10th century, Lincoln was thriving to the point where it had its own mint. Archaeological evidence shows new timber-framed houses being erected in parts of the town deserted since Roman times. Lincoln expanded greatly with the arrival of the Danes. Two years after the arrival of William the Conqueror Lincoln Castle was being built.

By the middle of the 12th century Lincoln was one of the most prosperous towns in England. A weavers guild in 1130 was producing woolen cloth to export to Flanders; especially valuable were cloths died scarlet and green. (Note that Robin Hood is sometimes referred to as wearing Lincoln green.)

One of the reasons Lincoln became prosperous was no doubt being home to one of the five main Jewish communities in England at the time. The Jewish community was mentioned as early as 1154. Unfortunately, the antisemitism that led to the Massacre at York in 1190 spread to Lincoln. The Jewish community was protected by taking refuge with royal officials, but their houses were plundered.

In 1255, an even graver anti-Jewish incident took place, involving blood libel. I'll remind you of that story tomorrow.