Adda of Bernicia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adda |
|
|---|---|
| King of Bernicia | |
| Reign | 560–568 |
| Predecessor | Glappa |
| Successor | Æthelric |
| Father | Ida of Bernicia |
Adda was an early king of Bernicia, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is now northern England. He ruled from about 560 AD to 568 AD. Adda was the third known ruler of Bernicia.
Who Was King Adda?
Adda was one of the many sons of Ida, who was the very first king of Bernicia. Adda's brother, Æthelric, later became king after him.
Adda's Time as King
Not much is known for sure about Adda's life or what happened during his time as king. Old historical records from that period can be a bit confusing, and they don't always agree on the exact order of kings or how long each one ruled between the death of King Ida and the start of Æthelfrith's rule around 592 AD.
The Battle of Caer Greu
Some historians believe that King Adda might have been the leader of the Bernician army at a big battle called Caer Greu. This battle happened around 580 AD. During this fight, two British kings, Peredur and Gwrgi of Ebrauc, were killed.
There's some confusion about who led the Angles (the people from Bernicia) in this battle:
- Some old writings, like the Annales Cambriae, say the battle was in 580 AD.
- Other old stories, called the Welsh Triads, say that King Ida led the Angles. But King Ida died in 559 AD, so he couldn't have been there in 580 AD. Because Adda's name sounds a bit like Ida's, some people think the Triads might have meant Adda instead of Ida.
- However, another old book, the Historia Brittonum, says Adda only ruled for 8 years after Ida. If that's true, then Adda wouldn't have been king in 580 AD. This means either the dates are mixed up, or a different king led the Angles.
It's also possible that Ælle of Deira, a king from a nearby kingdom, led the Angles. After the Battle of Caer Greu, the British kingdom of Ebrauc disappeared, and Deira took over its land. But after the battle, the remaining British kingdoms in the north started fighting against Bernicia, not Deira. This suggests that Bernicia was the main kingdom involved in the battle.
Because of these different old stories, historians are still trying to figure out exactly what happened and who was in charge during the Battle of Caer Greu.
