685AD. Aeldfrith (the illegitimate son of Oswiu and Princess Fin of Ireland) came to the throne. The supporters of the house of Aethelric secured his succession and he was brought down from the holy island of Iona where he had been studying.
691AD. St Wilfrid Abbot of Rippon tried to make himself Bishop of Northumbria. Aeldfrith seized some of his Ripon Abbey estates and threatened to set up a new Bishopric. Wilfrid was banished and fled to Mercia.
695AD. Aeldfrith married Princess Cuthburga daughter of king Ine of Wessex
698AD. Aeldfrth’s general Berhtred was killed when he led the Northumbria army against the Picts.
700AD. Aeldfrith’s wife Queen Cuthberga entered the religious life.
702AD. Arch Bishop Berhtwald of Canterbury called a synod at Austerfield to settle the dispute between Aeldfrith and St Wilfrid. The matter was settled when Wilfrid finally accepted the post of Bishop of Hexham and Abbot of Ripon.
