Battle of the River Idle facts for kids

The Battle of the River Idle was a very important fight in early English history. It happened around 616 or 617 AD near the River Idle in what is now Nottinghamshire. In this battle, Rædwald of East Anglia, who was the King of East Anglia, won a big victory over Æthelfrith of Northumbria, the King of Northumbria. This battle changed who ruled in parts of England for a while.

Why the Battle Happened

To understand the battle, we need to know about the kings involved. Æthelfrith was the King of Bernicia starting around 593 AD. Bernicia was a kingdom in northern England. Around 604 AD, Æthelfrith also took control of a nearby kingdom called Deira.

When Æthelfrith took over Deira, he forced some important members of the Deiran royal family to leave. One of these was Edwin, who was the son of the previous king, Ælla. Edwin's nephew, Hereric, also had to leave. Hereric later died mysteriously while staying with another king, Ceretic. Many people believe Æthelfrith was responsible for Hereric's death.

Edwin, the other exile, eventually found safety and protection with King Rædwald in East Anglia. East Anglia was a powerful kingdom in the east of England. King Æthelfrith did not want Edwin to be safe. He sent messages to Rædwald, asking him to kill Edwin. But Rædwald refused to do this. Instead of harming Edwin, Rædwald decided to gather his army and challenge Æthelfrith. This decision led directly to the Battle of the River Idle.

The Battle Unfolds

King Rædwald quickly gathered his army and marched north. His son, Rægenhere, joined him. Their goal was to meet Æthelfrith and his forces. The two armies met on the eastern bank of the River Idle. This area was on the western edge of the kingdom of Lindsey.

The battle was very fierce and bloody. People remembered it for a long time. There was even a saying that "The river Idle was foul with the blood of Englishmen." During the intense fighting, both King Æthelfrith and Rædwald's son, Rægenhere, were killed.

Another historical writer, Henry of Huntingdon, gave more details about the battle. He said that Rædwald's army was divided into three groups. Rædwald led one group, his son Rægenhere led another, and Edwin led the third. Æthelfrith's army had more experienced fighters. They attacked in a loose formation. When they saw Rægenhere, they might have thought he was Edwin. Æthelfrith's men fought their way to Rægenhere and killed him. After his son died, King Rædwald became very angry. He broke through the enemy lines and killed Æthelfrith. Many of Æthelfrith's Northumbrian soldiers were also killed.

What Happened Next

After Æthelfrith's death, Edwin became the new king of Northumbria. He ruled both Deira and Bernicia, the two kingdoms that made up Northumbria. In return, Æthelfrith's own sons, including Eanfrith, Oswald, and Oswiu, had to leave their home and flee north.

Historians believe this battle was more than just a fight over Edwin. It was part of a bigger struggle. It helped decide who would be the most powerful leader among the Anglian people at that time. The Battle of the River Idle was a key moment in the early history of England, shaping its future rulers and kingdoms.