Kingdom of Northumbria Monarchs

kingdoms : Northumbria

	The kingdom of Northumbria was an Anglian kingdom which was originally formed from the union of two independent kingdoms, Bernicia and Deira. The territory of the Kingdom of Bernicia was approximately equivalent to the modern English counties of Northumberland and Durham, and the Scottish counties of Berwickshire and East Lothian. It stretched from the River Forth to the River Tees, and the capital was located at Bamburgh Castle. The territory of the Kingdom of Deria was the equivalent of the East Riding of Yorkshire, stretching from the River Humber to the River Tees, and from the eastern shores adjacent to the North Sea to the western edge of the Vale of York. The kingdom's capital was at the city of York. The two kingdoms were first united by King Aethelfrith of Bernicia around the year 604 AD, except for occasional periods of division over the subsequent century. Although the Bernicia royal bloodlines became the dominate rulers of Northumbria, by 679 AD, there ceased to be another separate king of Deira until the time of Norse (Viking) rule. The ex-Kingdom of Deria was the first Northumbria territory to fall to the Danelaw, while the ex-kingdom of Bernicia retained its status as a kingdom. However, Bernicia eventually became subordinate in 867 AD when Northumbria became the northern kingdom of the Danelaw. Below are the following Monarch lists of the Kingdoms of Bernicia, Deira, and Northumbria. Take into consideration that many of the dates, particularly in the earlier period, are considered unreliable. One reason for this is because the Norsemen (Vikings) had the habit of destroying manuscripts during their raids or invasions over many years. Numismatic evidence has been used to fill in the gaps.
	Kingdom of Bernicia Monarchs
	Dynasty	Reign: A.D	Ruler	Notes
		c. 500	Esa (Oesa)	Doubtful historicity as a king.
		c. 520	Eoppa	Doubtful historicity as a king. Son of Esa.
	Leodwaldings	c. 547 to 559	Ida	Ida is recorded as the first king of Bernicia, the son of Eoppa and descendant of the Germanic god Wōden. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles states Ida also built Bamburgh Castle.
	Leodwaldings	559 to 560	Glappa (Clappa)	Son of Ida.
	Leodwaldings	560 to 568	Adda	Son of Ida.
	Leodwaldings	568 to 572	Æthelric	During his reign the Bernicians met the Britons in three important battles, the first on the offensive, the others on the defensive. Son of Ida.
	Leodwaldings	572 to 579	Theodric (Deoric)	Son of Ida.
	Leodwaldings	579 to 585	Frithuwald (Frithewlf)	Son of Ida.
	Maybe a Leodwaldings	585 to 592	Hussa	It is not entirely certain whether Hussa was the son of Ida, or rather the leader of a rival Anglian faction.
	Leodwaldings	c. 593 to c. 616	Æthelfrith	Æthelfrith was the first Bernica king to rule the neighboring Kingdom of Deira. He had 8 children with his wife Acha of Deira and was the son a Æthelric. He was killed in battle by the army commanded by Rædwald of East Anglia.
	Deira royalty	c. 616 to 632/633	Edwin (Ēadwine)	Edwin converted to Christianity and was baptised in 627 AD. He was the son of king Ælla of Deira and perished by the armies of King Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd and King Penda of Mercia at the Battle of Hatfield Chase.
	Leodwaldings	c. 633 to 634	Eanfrith	During Edwin's reign, Eanfrith and his brothers fled north into exile amongst the Scots and Picts. He married a Pictish princess and they had a son, Talorcan, who later became a king of the Picts (653–657 AD). Eanfrith was the son of Æthelfrith.
	Leodwaldings	634 to 641/642	Oswald (Osuualde, Osƿald)	Oswald was in exile like his brothers, however, once he became king, Oswald brought the Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler. He was the son of Æthelfrith and perished in the Battle of Maserfield by King Penda of Mercia. Oswald's head and limbs were placed on stakes and became venerated as a saint.
	Leodwaldings	642 to 654	Oswiu (Oswy, Ōswīg)	Was in exile with his brothers after his fathers death (Æthelfrith). At the beginning of his reign, Oswiu struggled to assert control over the Kingom of Deria; including having a contentious relationship with King Penda of Mercia. Nonetheless, Oswiu eventually secured control of Deira, with his son Alhfrith serving as a sub-king, and defeated King Penda at the Battle of the Winwæd. For three years, Oswiu's power extended over Mercia, earning him recognition over much of Anglo-Saxon Britain as a Bretwalda. He became King of united Northumbria (Bernicia and Deira).
	Kingdom of Deira Monarchs
	Dynasty	Reign: A.D	Ruler	Notes
	Deira royalty	559/560 to 589	Ælla (Aelli)	Ælla is the first known king of Deira. He is the son of Yffa (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Anglian Collection versions) and is recorded as a descendant of the Germanic god Wōden. Edwin and Acha are Ælla children.
	Deira royalty	c. 589/599 to c. 604	Æthelric (Aedilric)	Though Æthelric is believed to have succeeded Ælla, his reign is historically obscure. He is the uncle of Edwin.
	Leodwaldings	593/604? to 616	Æthelfrith	Æthelfrith was the first Bernica king to rule the neighboring Kingdom of Deira. He had 8 children with his wife Acha of Deira and was the son a Æthelric. He was killed in battle by the army commanded by Rædwald of East Anglia.
	Deira royalty	616 to 632/633	Edwin (Ēadwine)	Edwin converted to Christianity and was baptised in 627 AD. He was the son of king Ælla of Deira and perished by the armies of King Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd and King Penda of Mercia at the Battle of Hatfield Chase.
	Deira royalty	632 to 633 or 633 to 634	Osric	Is the son of Æthelric and the cousin of Edwin. Reverted from Christianity to paganism. Osric and his army were destroyed by king Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd.
	Leodwaldings	c. 633 to 641/642	Oswald (Osuualde, Osƿald)	Oswald was in exile with his brothers until his ascended to the throne. Oswald brought the Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler. He was the son of Æthelfrith and perished in the Battle of Maserfield by King Penda of Mercia. Oswald's head and limbs were placed on stakes and became venerated as a saint.
	Leodwaldings	642 to 644	Oswiu (Oswy, Ōswīg)
	Deira royalty	644? to 651	Oswine (Oswin or Osuine)	Assumed the throne of Deira and reigned for seven peaceful years. After Deira's peaceful period Oswiu declared war on Oswine, but Oswine refused to engage in battle, instead retreating to Gilling and the home of his friend, Earl Humwald. Humwald betrayed Oswine, delivering him to Oswiu's soldiers by whom Oswine was put to death. Oswine is the son of Osric.
	Leodwaldings	651 to 654 or 655	Æthelwold (Œthelwald)	Is the son of Oswald. Though it is uncertain whether Æthelwold's uncle, Oswiu, installed him as king or whether Æthelwold took the kingship in opposition to Oswiu. Nonetheless, Æthelwold allied himself with Oswiu's enemy, King Penda of Mercia, and assisted King Penda during his invasion of Northumbria in 655 AD. Æthelwold's fate is unknown, however, he withdrew his army against his uncle at the battle Battle of the Winwaed which resulted in King Penda being defeated and killed.
	Leodwaldings	654 or 655 to 670	Oswiu	Restored to the throne.
	Leodwaldings	656 to 664	Alchfrith (Ealhfrith)	Enthroned by his farther king Oswiu, as the sub-king of Deira. He married King Penda's daughter Cyneburh and his sister, Ealhflæd, married Cyneburh's brother, Peada.
	Leodwaldings	670 to 679	Ælfwine	Enthroned King of Deira after the succession of his brother, King Ecgfrith, to the throne of Northumbria in 670 AD. Ælfwine was Killed in the Battle of the Trent against King Æthelred of Mercia.
	Kingdom of Northumbria Monarchs
	Dynasty	Regin: A.D	Ruler	Notes
	Leodwaldings	654 to 670	Oswiu	King of Bernicia and Deira - the unification of these two kingdoms was known as the Kingdom of Northumbria.
	Leodwaldings	670 to 685	Ecgfrith	Was the King of Deira from 664 to 670 AD, untilI he enthroned his brother as king. Ecgfrith is the son of King Oswiu, who arranged a marriage to princess Æthelthryth of East Anglia. Ecgfrith fate was met by a disastrous defeat against the Picts at the Battle of Nechtansmere, in which he lost his life.
	Leodwaldings	685 to 704/705	Aldfrith (Ealdfrith, Aldfrid)	Aldfrith's reign saw the creation of works of Hiberno-Saxon art such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Codex Amiatinus, this style of art is considered the start of Northumbria's golden age. Aldfrith married Cuthburh, the sister of King Ine of Wessex, and was the son of King Oswiu.
	Eoppingas?	704 to 705	Eadwulf	Usurper.
	Leodwaldings	705 to 716	Osred I	Osred was only a child when Eadwulf was overthrown, and the government was controlled by the powerful Bishop Wilfrid, presumably assisted by ealdormen such as Berhtfrith son of Berhtred. Although Osred was the son of King Aldfrith, he was adopted as Wilfrid's son after the death of his father.
	Leodwaldings	716 to 718	Coenred (Cenred)	Distant descendant of Ida of Bernecia.
	Leodwaldings?	718 to 729	Osric	Is believed to be the son of Aldfrith. Alternatively, he may have been a son of King Eahlfrith of Deira, and thus a first cousin of King Osred I. Osric adopted Ceolwulf as his heir.
	Leodwaldings	729 to 731/732	Ceolwulf	The brother of King Coenred. Ceolwulf was briefly deposed in the autumn of 731 or 732 AD.
	Leodwaldings	731/732 to 737	Ceolwulf	Restored to the throne but eventually abdicated to become a monk. He was later canonized, and his feast day is January 15.
	Leodwaldings	737 to 758	Eadberht	Son of Eata and is a descendant of King Ida of Bernicia. His brother is Ecgbert, who was the Archbishop of York. Eadberht abdicated to a monastery attached to the cathedral of York. He and his brother both rest under the porch of the cathedral of York.
	Leodwaldings	758 to 759	Oswulf (Osulf)	In spite of his father's (King Eadberht) long reign, and his powerful uncle, Oswulf did not hold the throne for long. He was murdered within a year of coming to power, by members of his household - either by his servants or bodyguards, at Market Weighton.
	Unknown	759 to 765	Æthelwald Moll	Æthelwald faced at least one rebellion, led by Oswine, who is perhaps a brother of Oswulf. The Witenagemot of Northumbrian deposed Æthelwald and replaced him with Alhred. After his removal, Æthelwald became a monk, perhaps involuntarily.
	Leodwaldings?	765 to 774	Alhred (Alchred)	Deposed and exiled.
	Unknown	774 to 779	Æthelred I	Son of King Æthelwald Moll, deposed after ordering the assassination of three ealdormen: Ealdwulf son of Bosa, at Coniscliffe and Cynewulf and Ecga at Helathirnum.
	Leodwaldings?	779 to 788	Ælfwald I	Thought to be the son of Oswulf. He was murdered, probably at Chesters, by ealdorman Sicga in 788 AD. Ælfwald's sons Ælf and Ælfwine were killed in 791 AD on the orders of King Æthelred.
	Leodwaldings	788 to 790	Osred II	Son of King Alhred. Even though Osred united two of the competing factions in Northumbria, he was still deposed and exiled after a brief reign.
	Unknown	790 to 796	Æthelred I	Restored to the throne. He married Ælfflæd who was the daughter of King Offa of Mercia. Ordered Ælfwald's sons, Ælf and Ælfwine to be killed.
	Unknown	796	Osbald	Exiled after a reign of 27 days.
	Northumbrian noble family	796 to 806	Eardwulf	Deposed and exiled. Little is known about Eardwulf's family, though his father, also called Eardwulf, is known to be a nobleman.
	Unknown	806 to 808	Ælfwald II (Elfwald II)
	Northumbrian noble family	808 to c. 810	Eardwulf	Restored to the throne with the aid of Emperor Charlemagne - the first Holy Roman Emperor, and Pope Leo III.
	Northumbrian noble family	c. 810 to c. 850	Eanred	Eanred is the son of King Eardwulf. His reign sees the appearance of the styca, a new style of small coin which replaced the earlier sceat. (The dating of Eanred's reign is problematic).
	Northumbrian noble family	c. 854 to c. 858	Æthelred II	Son of King Eanred. Deposed in favour of Rædwulf. (The dating of Æthelred's reign is problematic).
	Unknown	c. 858	Rædwulf (Redwulf)	Rædwulf descent is not known, howerever, historians believe it is possible he was a kinsman of Osberht and Ælla. He died fighting the Vikings. (The dating of Rædwulf's reign is problematic).
	Northumbrian noble family	c. 858 to 862	Æthelred II	Restored to the throne.
	Unknown	unknown	Osberht (Osbert)	Deposed (The dating of Osberht's reign is problematic).
	Unknown	c. 862/863 to 867	Ælle II	King Ælle was described by most sources as a tyrant and not the rightful king. He had a daughter named Æthelthryth. Ælle was slain with King Osberht by the Danes Great Heathen Army (vikings) at York. (The dating of Ælle's reign is problematic).
	Unknown	867	Osberht (Osbert)	Restored to the throne but was later slain by the Danes Great Heathen Army (vikings) at York. The usurper Ælle II was also killed.
	Kings of Northumbria in the Norse era
	Dynasty	Reign: A.D	Ruler	Notes
	Competing Royal family?	867 to 872	Ecgberht I	Puppet king of the Danes. Historians presume that he was from one of the Northumbrians competing royal family
	Dane (viking)	872 to 876	Ricsige	Was a Dane from the Great Heathen Army.
	Descendant of the Norse god Odin	876 to 877	Halfdan Ragnarsson	Alongside with his brothers, Halfdan Ragnarsson was a commander of the Great Heathen Army. He was the first king of Jórvík, the southern territory of Northumbria called Yorkshire (seated at the city of York), and also claimed the Kingdom of Dublin. He is the son of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok from the Norse Sagas.
		877 to 883	Interregnum
	Unknown	c. 883 to 895	Guthred	Guðrøðr in Old Norse.
	Dane (viking)	late 9th century/early 10th century	Siefredus	Sigfroðr in Old Norse. Numismatic evidence suggests he ruled from around 895 until 900 AD, which suggests he was joint king with King Cnut.
	Dane (viking)	late 9th century/early 10th century	Cnut	Knútr in Old Norse. Numismatic evidence suggests he ruled from around 900 until 905 AD, which suggest he was joint king with King Siefredus.
	Cerdicingas (Wessex)	fl. c. 900 to 902	Æthelwold ætheling (Æthelwald)	Had a strong claiment to the thone of Wessex but fled to Northumbria when he couldn't raise a strong army to win the throne. He is the son of King Æthelred I of Wessex.
	Dane (Viking)	c. 902 to 910	Hálfdan and Eowils	The brothers were the co-Kings of Jórvík (York). Another king, Ingwær, their brother, may have also ruled. All three were killed at the Battle of Tettenhall by allied Anglo-Saxon forces.
	Uí Ímair	c. 914 to 921	Ragnall ua Ímair	Probably controlled much of Northumbria before finally becoming king of Jórvík (York) in 918 AD, Ragnall was also king of Mann from c. 914 to 921 AD. He's the grandson of Ímair - the founder of Uí Ímair or the Dynasty of Ivar. Brother to King Sigtryggr and King Gofraid.
	Uí Ímair	921 to 927	Sigtryggr	Sigtryggr was aslo the King of Dublin from 917 to 920 AD. He is known as Sitric Cáech in the Irish chronicles and is the grandson of Ímair - the founder of Uí Ímair or the Dynasty of Ivar. Brother to King Ragnall and King Gofraid.
	Uí Ímair	927	Gofraid ua Ímair	Gofraid was also King of Dublin from 921 to 934 AD. His reign of Norhtumbria only lasted for 6 months when he was driven out by the first king of England, Æthelstan of Wessex. He is the grandson of Ímair - the founder of Uí Ímair or the Dynasty of Ivar. Brother to King Ragnall and King Sigtryggr.
	Cerdicingas (Wessex)	927 to 939	Æthelstan of Wessex	Became King of England after the Kingdom of Northumbria accepted his lordship. Æthelstan was previously titled the King of the Anglo-Saxons, reigning from 924 to 927 AD. A member of the House of Wessex and is regarded as one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings.
	Uí Ímair	939 to 941	Olaf Guthfrithson	Olaf was also the King of Dublin from 934 to 941 AD. After the death of King Æthelstan of England, Olaf invaded Northumbria which resulted in a treaty with King Æthelstan's successor, King Edmund, which ceded Northumbria to Olaf. He married the daughter of king Constantine II of Scotland, and is the son of King Gofraid ua Ímair.
	Uí Ímair	941 to 943 or 944	Olaf Sihtricson (Óláfr Sigtryggsson)	Olaf was more commonly called Amlaíb Cuarán. He was twice the King of Dublin and its dependencies and was also twice, perhaps three times, the ruler of Northumbria. He is the son of King Sigtryggr.
	Uí Ímair	943 to 944	Ragnall Guthfrithson	Ragnall ruled with or in opposition to his brother Olaf Sihtricson. He is the son of King Gofraid ua Ímair.
	Cerdicingas (Wessex)	c. 944 to 946	Ēadmund of Wessex	More commonly known as Edmund I, ruled Northumbria as King of the English. He was a son of King Edward the Elder and half-brother of King Æthelstan.
	Fairhair	c. 947 to 948	Eric Bloodaxe (Eiríkr Haraldsson)	Old Norse: Eiríkr blóðøx, who was also the King of Norway from 931 to 933 AD. He is the son of King Harald of Norway, thr founder of the Fairhair Dynasty.
	Uí Ímair	949 to 952	Olaf Sihtricson (Óláfr Sigtryggsson)	Restored to the throne.
	Fairhair	952 to 954	Eric Bloodaxe (Eiríkr Haraldsson)	Restored to the throne.
	Cerdicingas (Wessex)	954 to 955	Eadred of Wessex (Eadred)	Claiming and enforcing rule from 946 AD, Northumbria absorbed permanently into the Kingdom of England after 954 AD. He the son of King Edward the Elder, broth