Kingdom of Bernicia

Bernicia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established by Anglian settlers in the 6th century. Located in what is now southeastern Scotland and North East England, it encompassed modern Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Berwickshire, and East Lothian, stretching from the River Forth to the River Tees.

The kingdom was initially part of the Brythonic territory formed from the southern lands of the Votadini, potentially as a division of Coel Hen's 'great northern realm' around 420 CE. This region, known as Yr Hen Ogledd ("The Old North"), may have had its early power center at Din Guardi (modern Bamburgh). The island of Lindisfarne, known in Welsh as Ynys Medcaut, became the ecclesiastical seat of Bernicia's bishops.

Bernicia was first ruled by Ida, and around 604, his grandson Æthelfrith (Æðelfriþ) united Bernicia with the neighboring kingdom of Deira to form Northumbria. Æthelfrith ruled until he was killed by Rædwald of East Anglia in 616, who was sheltering Edwin, the son of Ælle, king of Deira. Edwin then took over as king of Northumbria. During his reign, Edwin converted to Christianity in 627, following his conflicts with Brythonic kingdoms and, later, the Welsh.

In 633, at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, Edwin was defeated and killed by Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia. This defeat led to the temporary division of Northumbria into Bernicia and Deira. Bernicia was briefly ruled by Eanfrith, son of Æthelfrith, who was killed after suing for peace with Cadwallon. Eanfrith's brother, Oswald, then raised an army and defeated Cadwallon at the Battle of Heavenfield in 634. Oswald's victory led to his recognition as king of a united Northumbria. Subsequently, the kings of Bernicia dominated the unified kingdom, although Deira occasionally had its own sub-kings during the reigns of Oswiu and his son Ecgfrith.