Editing Bernicia (section)

===A forcibly united Northumbria===
Ida's grandson, [[Æthelfrith of Northumbria|Æthelfrith]] (Æðelfriþ), united [[Deira (kingdom)|Deira]] with his own kingdom by force around 604. He ruled the two kingdoms (united as Northumbria) until he was defeated and killed by [[Rædwald of East Anglia]] (who had given refuge to [[Edwin of Northumbria|Edwin]], son of [[Ælla of Deira|Ælle, king of Deira]]) around 616. Edwin then became king. The early part of Edwin's reign was possibly spent fighting enemies from the Brythonic exiles of the old British kingdom, operating out of [[Gododdin]]. After this, it is said that on Easter Day 627 Edwin converted to Christianity in return for [[Elmet]] (a [[Cumbric]]-speaking<ref name="CelticCulture">{{cite book |last= Koch|first= John T.|title= Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&q=515&pg=PA515|publisher= ABC-CLIO|year= 2006|pages=515–516|isbn= 9781851094400}}</ref> kingdom that once existed in the modern-day [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], near [[Leeds]]), joining the kingdom of Northumbria;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/upperwharfedaleb00speiuoft/upperwharfedaleb00speiuoft_djvu.txt | title=Upper Wharfedale : Being a complete account of the history, antiquities and scenery of the picturesque valley of the Wharfe, from Otley to Langstrothdale | year=1900 }}</ref> which drew him into direct conflict with Wales proper.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Following the disastrous [[Battle of Hatfield Chase]] on 12 October 633, in which Edwin was defeated and killed by [[Cadwallon ap Cadfan]] of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] and [[Penda of Mercia]], Northumbria was divided back into Bernicia and Deira. Bernicia was then briefly ruled by [[Eanfrith of Bernicia|Eanfrith]], son of Æthelfrith, but after about a year he went to Cadwallon to sue for peace and was killed. Eanfrith's brother [[Oswald of Northumbria|Oswald]] then raised an army and finally defeated Cadwallon at the [[Battle of Heavenfield]] in 634.

After this victory, Oswald appears to have been recognised by both Bernicians and Deirans as king of a properly united Northumbria. The kings of Bernicia were thereafter supreme in that kingdom, although Deira had its own sub-kings at times during the reigns of [[Oswiu of Northumbria|Oswiu]] and his son [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria|Ecgfrith]].