Eanfrith of Bernicia

Eanfrith (also Eanfrid, Enfrid, Anfrith, Eanfirdus, Eanferð, Eanferþ; † 634) was in the years 633/634-634 King of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bernicia.

Life

Family

Eanfrith was the eldest son of the king of Northumbria Æthelfrith and probably came from his first marriage with Bebba. His stepmother Acha was a cousin Osric ( 633-634 ), king of Deira.

He was with the daughter of Gwid ( 633-653 ), a king of the Picts, whose name was not recorded, married. With her ​​was the son Talorgan mac Enfret and a daughter whose name is unknown. The daughter married Beli and became the mother of the future Piktenkönigs Brudei / Bridei Talorgan was later ( 653-657 ), king of the Picts.

Youth

Eanfriths father Æthelfrith conquered Deira around 604 and united the two kingdoms to the new Kingdom of Northumbria. Æthelfrith 616 fell in the Battle of the River Idle against Raedwald of East Anglia and his protege Edwin. Edwin had raised as a heritage of the Kings of Deira claim to the Northumbrian throne he ascended now. Eanfrith, as the son of his enemy, had to go into exile and moved to Scotland, where he met the Christian culture and was baptized. In exile, married a Princess of the Picts.

Rule

In the year 633 the kings allied themselves ap Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda Cadfan of Mercia and rebelled against King Edwin of Northumbria Eanfriths predecessor. Together they brought together a considerable force, which managed to destroy the Northumbrian army on October 12, 633 at the Battle of Hatfield Chase at Doncaster. Edwin died in battle; as his son Osfrith. His son Eadfrith had surrendered and was later killed by Penda. The immediate consequence of the defeat was the new division Northumbria: While in the southern Deira Osric, a relative could Edwin's hold, the northern Bernicia fell to the returned from exile Eanfrith, and thus to the local old dynasty back. Maybe Eanfrith was assisted in the seizure of power by Domnall Brecc, king of the Picts.

According to the Venerable Bede Osric and Eanfrith to have been baptized Christians who again joined after the accession of the Anglo-Saxon religion. Osric continued the battle against Cadwallon, he 634, probably in York, included and besieged. In case of failure Cadwallons Osric fell and his army was wiped out. Cadwallon rampaged through Northumbria and let Eanfrith, who was ready for peace concluded murder. In the same year Cadwallon fell in the battle of Heaven Field in the fight against Eanfriths Christian half-brother Oswald Northumbria reunited under his rule.

Swell

Osric of Deira Rædwald of East Anglia Cadwallon ap Cadfan Penda of Mercia Battle of Heavenfield Oswald of Northumbria Internet History Sourcebooks Project Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
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