The Eanfrith of Bernicia reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Eanfrith of Bernicia

Eanfrith (d. 634) was a King of Bernicia (633 - 634). He was the son of Aethelfrith.

Following the death of his father in battle against Raedwald of East Anglia, Edwin of Deira was installed by Raedwald as king of Northumbria. Eanfrith fled to the north and took refuge with the Picts. He married into the Pictish royal line and had a son, Talorcan, who later became a king of the Picts (653 - 657). Throughout his life, Eanfrith remained a pagan, unlike Edwin, who converted to Christianity in 627.

On October 12, 633, Edwin was killed in battle against the combined forces of Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia at Hatfield Chase. This defeat plunged Northumbria into chaos, and Eanfrith took the opportunity to return home and seize power in one of its two sub-kingdoms, Bernicia. However, Cadwallon continued a savage assault on the lands of Northumbria. Eanfrith went to Cadwallon in an attempt to negotiate peace, but Cadwallon had him murdered.

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