Hoddem
Hoddam is a village located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Saint Kentigern, a Christian missionary, were active in Hoddam. According to legend, Saint Kentigern had stayed in Hoddam as a guest at a home of a local noblewoman. Her pet robin, which she treasured greatly, was accidentally killed by her servants. Saint Kentigern, moved by her grief, prayed over the bird and brought it back to life.
Hoddam | 0 to the 9th century AD
Pre-Roman and Roman Periods
Before the Roman period, the area that would become Dumfries and Galloway was inhabited by Celtic-speaking peoples. Archaeological evidence suggests human activity in the region during the Iron Age.
In the centuries leading up to 0 AD, the southern part of what is now Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway, was influenced by the Roman Empire. The Romans established the Antonine Wall, a defensive fortification, in the region during the second century, but it was abandoned in favor of Hadrian’s Wall to the south. The Roman presence in southern Scotland is marked by forts and roads, as the Romans sought to control and integrate the region into their empire.
Early Medieval Period | 5th – 9th centuries
During the early medieval period, following the withdrawal of Roman forces, various Celtic and Anglo-Saxon groups inhabited the area. It was a time of tribal kingdoms and shifting territories.
The introduction of Christianity to Scotland was a significant development during this period. Saint Ninian, an early Christian missionary, is credited with establishing the first Christian church in Scotland at Whithorn in the fifth century. While Hoddam is not directly associated with Saint Ninian, the spread of Christianity in the region would have been ongoing during this time.
Kingdom of Rheged
The area that includes Hoddam was historically part of the Kingdom of Rheged. Rheged was one of the early medieval Celtic kingdoms in the region and was ruled by a series of kings. Its exact boundaries are not well-defined, but it likely included parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England.
Viking Incursions | 8th – 9th centuries
The eighth and ninth centuries saw Viking raids and incursions along the coast of what is now Scotland. Vikings targeted monastic communities and engaged in trade and settlement. The Vikings’ influence contributed to the Norse-Gaelic culture in parts of Scotland, including the western and northern regions.