A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Quenburga, or Robba
QUENBURGA,
Or, as she was sometimes called, "Robba," a name commonly adopted by the consorts of the Northumbrian monarchs, was the daughter of Kynigils, one of the Kings of Wessex, who was converted to Christianity by the missionary Bririuus, and under his direction founded Winchester Cathedral. Oswald and his Queen Robba held their court at the royal city of Robbanburgh, the name and site of which is still preserved—Bamburgh Castle, a fortress at one time of great size and strength. Queen Robba, we are told, was as much celebrated by her admirable conduct, as was the saintly king, her husband, by his holiness of life. After the death of Oswald, who was attacked and cruelly slain by Penda, King of Mercia, who envied his goodness and prosperity, the widowed queen obtained permission to bury the head and arm of her husband, which were the only portions of his dismembered body she could procure; she had the precious relics enshrined in a silver case, and conveyed to St. Aidan, by whom they were carefully deposited in St, Peter's Church, in the royal city of Robbanburgh, as is recorded by the Venerable Bede. After this, we hear no more of the pious Quenburga, who probably retired to a monastery, and spent the rest of her days in seclusion,