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- Aldhun, or Ealdhun (d 1018), bishop of Durham, a monk of noble family,was appointed to the Bernician see of Chester-le-Street, Durham, in 990.In order to escape the ravaes of the Danes, Aldhun, accompanied by thewhole body of his monks, left Chester in 995, and carried the body of StChuthberht to Ripon. This migration was, according to Simeon of Durham,the result of a divine warning. After the departure of Olaf to NorwayEngland enjoyed a respite from invasion. Seeing that the danger was past,Aldhun with St Cuthberht's body left Ripon after a stay of three or fourmonths. He and his monks did not take the straight road back toChester-le-Street, but went to Werdelan Hill to the east of the presentcity of Durham. There the carriage which bore the incorruptible body ofthe saint stuck fast. From this is was inferred that it was the will ofSt Cuthberht to remain there. Unfortunately the place was ininhabitable.It was, however, revealed to one of the brethren that the body was to betaken to Durham. The choice, whether it was made by Aldhun or his patron,was a wise one, for the place was very strong. It cost no small pains tomake it fit for the habitation of the bishop and his monks. Only onelevel spot was there in the neighbourhood where men could drive theplough. There Aldhun at once began to raise a large and stately church ofstone. All the rest of the land was covered with trees. Uhtred, theNorthumbrian earl, and all the people from the Coquet to the Tees, cameto help the monks. The trees were grabbed up, dwellings were built, andin three years' time (998) the church was consecrated, and received thebody of the saint. Thus it was that after 113 years Chester-le-Streetceased to be the see of the Bernician bishop; and thus Aldhun planted thechurch and city of the height above the Wear in a place of strength whichhas in no small degree affected the history of the bishopric. Many andrich gifts were made to the church of Durham during the episcopate ofAldhun. Some lands, however, were alienated to the Northumbrian earls tohelp them in time of need. Aldhun had a daughter named Ecgfreda, whom hemarried to Uhtred, son of Waltheof, the earl of Bernician Northumbria. Onher marriage the bishop granted her husband six of the estates of hischurch, to be held by him so long as he lived with his wife. Uhtredgained great glory by a victory over the Scots, and was made earl of boththe Northumbrian earldoms. He was now rich enought to resign the bishop'sgrant. He sent Ecgfreda back to her father and restored the estates whichhe had received with her. Both he and Ecgfreda married again. Aldhun isdescribed as a religious, humble, and gracious in word and deed. In 1018the whole strength of the Bernician earldom was destroyed at Carham byMalcolm, king of Scotland. Nearly all the thegns of the north fell in thebattle. When Aldhun heard of the piteous slaughter of the people of hisbishopric, he prayed that he might not survive them longer. He fell sick,and in a few days he died. One tower only of his new church remainedunfinished at his death. [Dictionary of National Biography I:247]
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Abt 0940 - 1018 (78 years)