Home > Ecgfrith of Northumbria

Ecgfrith was the son of his precedessor as king, Oswiu of Northumbria. Bede tells us, in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, that Ecgfrith (or Egfrid, as his name is spelled there) was held as a hostage "at the court of Queen Cynwise in the province of the Mercians" at the time of Penda of Mercia's invasion of Northumbria in 654 or 655. Penda was, however, defeated and killed by the Northumbrians under Oswiu in the Battle of Winwaed, a victory which greatly enhanced Northumbrian power.

Ecgfrith was made king of Deira, a sub-kingdom of Northumbria, in 664Events September, Synod of Whitby Births Deaths Xuanzang, famous Chinese Buddhist monk., and he became king of Northumbria following his father's death on February 15February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 319 days remaining (320 in leap years). Events 1637 Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor. 1764 The American city of St. Louis is established. 1805 Harmony Society officially, 670. He had married Æthelthryththelthryth (also Etheldreda Ediltrudis Audrey or Awdrey (c. 630 June 23 679) was a popular Anglo-Saxon saint. She was probably born at Exning, near Newmarket in Suffolk, a daughter of Anna, King of East Anglia. She made an early first marriage (abt. 652), the daughter of Anna of East AngliaAnna (d. 653/ 654) was a King of East Anglia (c. 635 653/ 654). He was the son of Eni and the nephew of Eni's brother, Raedwald of East Anglia. Penda, king of the Mercians, invaded East Anglia around the year 635, defeating and killing king Egric and the, in 660Events Childeric II proclaimed king of Austrasia. Swithelm succeeds Sigeberht II as king of Essex Baekje in southwestern Korea was overthrown by the alliance of the Tang and Silla, led by General Su Dingfang, General Kim Yu-shin and Kim Beopmin. Births De; however, she took the veil shortly after Ecgfrith's accession, a step which possibly led to his long quarrel with WilfridWilfrid (c. 634 April 24, 709) was an English archbishop. He was born of good parentage in Northumbria. When serving in King Oswiu's court, he attracted the notice of the queen, Eanfled who, fostering his inclination for a religious life, placed him under, the Archbishop of York . Ecgfrith married a second wife, Eormenburg, before 678Events Pope Agatho succeeds Pope Donus. He is the first to stop paying tribute to the Byzantine Emperor upon election. Births K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III, Maya ruler of Palenque Deaths King Uija of Baekje Heads of states Japan Temmu Emperor of Japan (672-6, the year in which he expelled Wilfrid from his kingdom.

Early in his reign he defeated the PictsThe Picts inhabited Caledonia ( Scotland), north of the River Forth. The name Pict comes from the Romans: in Latin the word Picti means painted folk or possibly tattooed ones and may be akin to the Welsh word Pryd meaning to mark or draw''. Julius Caesar, who had risen in revolt, and created a new sub-kingdom in the north called Lothian. In 674, Ecgfrith defeated Wulfhere of Mercia and seized Lindsey. In 679, he fought a battle against the Mercians under Æthelred (who had married Ecgfrith's sister, Osthryth) on the river Trent. Ecgfrith's brother Ælfwine was killed in the battle, and the province of Lindsey was given up when peace was restored at the intervention of Theodore of Canterbury.

In 684 Ecgfrith sent an expedition to Ireland under his general Berht, which seems to have been unsuccessful. In 685, against the advice of Cuthbert, he led a force against the Picts, who were led by his cousin Brude mac Bili , but was lured by a feigned flight into their mountain fastnesses and slain at Nechtansmere (now Dunnichen ) in Forfarshire. This disastrous defeat severely weakened Northumbrian power in the north, and Bede dates the beginning of the decline of Northumbria from Ecgfrith's death. He was succeeded by his illegitimate half-brother, Aldfrith.

See Eddius, Vita Wilfridi (Raine, Historians of Church of York, Rolls, Series, London, 1879 - 1894), 19, 20, 24, 34, 39, 44; Bede, Hist. Eccl. (Plummer, Oxford, 1896), iii. 24; iv. 5, 12, 13, 15, 19, 21, 26.

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.