Æthelric of Deira

For other uses, see Æthelric (disambiguation).

Æthelric
King of Deira
Reignc. 588–604
SuccessorÆthelfrith

Æthelric (died c. 604?) was supposedly a King of Deira (c. 589/599–c. 604). He is thought to have succeeded Ælla of Deira, but his existence is historically obscure.

Manuscript A of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Ælle, king of Deira, was succeeded by Æthelric in 588, who reigned for five years.[1] According to Bede, Deira was invaded and taken over by Æthelfrith of Bernicia in about the year 604.[2][failed verification] The circumstances of this are unclear, and Æthelric's fate is unknown. The fact that Edwin, a son of Ælla and possibly Æthelric's brother[citation needed], had to flee into exile suggests that Deira may have been conquered by Æthelfrith, and in this case Æthelric may have been killed during warfare. Æthelfrith ruled both Deira and Bernicia, the two components of Northumbria, until he was killed in battle and the Deiran line was restored for a time under Edwin.

References

  1. ^ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (MS A) s.a. 588.
  2. ^ Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica, I.34, III.6; Historia Brittonum, chapter 61.

Further reading

  • Kirby, D.P. The Earliest English Kings. London, 1991. 56-8.
  • Miller, M. "The dates of Deira." Anglo-Saxon England 8 (1979): 35–61.
  • Yorke, Barbara. Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England. London, 1990. p. 77.
Preceded by King of Deira
589–604 		Succeeded by


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