Ida of Bernicia

Ida
Imaginary depiction of Ida from John Speed's 1611 "Saxon Heptarchy"
King of Bernicia
Reign	c. 547-559
Successor	Glappa
Died	c. 559
Spouse	Bearnoch
Issue	Adda, Æthelric, Theodric, Eadric/Bealric, Theodhere, Osmere, Ocga, Alric, Ecca, Oswald, Sogor, Sogothere.
Father	Eoppa of Bernicia

Ida (/ˈɪdɑː/) (died c. 559) is the first known king of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia, which he ruled from around 547 until his death in 559. Little is known of his life or reign, but he was regarded as the founder of a line from which later Anglo-Saxon kings in this part of northern England and southern Scotland claimed descent. His descendants successfully fought off Brittonic resistance and ultimately founded the powerful kingdom of Northumbria.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle indicates that Ida's reign began in 547, and records him as the son of Eoppa, grandson of Esa, and great-grandson of Ingwy. Likewise, the Historia Brittonum calls him as the son of Eoppa and the first king of Berneich or Bernicia. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle elaborates that he ruled for twelve years and built the Bernician capital of Bamburgh Castle. Later, however, the Chronicle confuses his territory with the later Northumbria, saying that Ælla, historically a king of Deira rather than Bernicia, succeeded him as king after his death. Northumbria did not exist until the union of Bernicia with the kingdom of Deira; this happened for the first time under Ida's grandson Æthelfrith. The genealogies of the Anglo-Saxon kings attached to some manuscripts of the Historia Brittonum give more information on Ida and his family; the text names Ida's "one queen" as Bearnoch and indicates that he had twelve sons, naming among them Adda, Æthelric, Theodric, Eadric, Theodhere, Osmere and Ealric. Several of these are listed as kings. One of them, Theodric, is noted for fighting against a Brittonic coalition led by Urien Rheged and his sons. The genealogical preface to Chronicon ex chronicis names six sons, Adda, Bealric, Theodric, Ethelric, Osmere, and Theodhere, born to his wife and six born to concubines, Ocga, Alric, Ecca, Oswald, Sogor and Sogothere. Ida's successor, Glappa, does not appear among his sons in any of the early sources. Ida's descendants would rule Bernicia and later Northumbria, and included the Leodwaldings.