An Irishman, possibly born in Connaught, Aidan was a monk at the monastery on the island of Iona in Scotland. The Roman Empire had spread Christianity into England, but due to its decline, paganism was seeing a resurgence in Northern England. St. Oswald of Northumbria had been living at the Iona monastery as a king in exile since 616 A.D. There he converted to Christianity and was baptized. In 634 he gained the crown of Northumbria, and was determined to bring Christianity to the mostly pagan people there.