Egbert I (King of Bernice)

The most detailed evidence of Egbert I is contained in the writings of the author of the XII century Simeon of Durham ^[1] .

According to the “Church History of England” written by Simeon of Durham, the first mention of Egbert I dates back to about the mid-860s, when he was one of those close to the Anglo-Saxon rulers of Northumbria . Egbert probably belonged to the upper strata of the Northumbrian nobility. Perhaps he was etching ^{[2] [3]} .

Northumbria was often attacked by the Scandinavian Vikings at that time. During one of these incursions, carried out by the Great Pagan Army led by Ivar Beskostny and Halfdan , on March 21, 867, two Northumbrian kings, Ella II and Osbert, fell in a battle under the walls of York . After the death of these monarchs, Northumbria fell under the control of the Scandinavians. Those, wanting to strengthen power over the conquered lands, elevated their protege to the throne. For unknown reasons, their choice fell on Egbert, whose management was entrusted to the territory of the Kingdom of Northumbria north of the Tyne River, while the more southern lands with the city of York remained under Danish rule ^{[1] [2] [4] [5] [6 ] ] [7]} .

There is almost no information about the reign of Egbert I. According to Simeon of Durham, this monarch was obedient in everything to the will of the Vikings. Such submissiveness of Egbert caused strong discontent among his subjects. As a result, in 872, an uprising took place in Northumbria, led by Rixig , possibly a relative of previous Northumbrian kings. Egbert and the archbishop of York, supported him, were forced to leave the kingdom ^{[1] [2] [5] [6] [8]} .

The fugitives took refuge at the court of King Mercia Bugred . However, if Wulfher still managed to later return to York, then Egbert died an exile: he died in a foreign land as early as 873. After his death, power over the Anglo-Saxon part of Northumbria finally passed to Rixig ^{[1] [2] [4] [6] [7]} .