BERNICIA, the northern of the two English kingdoms which were eventually united in the kingdom of Northumbria. Its terri tory is said to have stretched from the Tyne northwards, ulti mately reaching the Forth, while its western frontier was gradually extended at the expense of the Welsh. The chief royal residence was Bamburgh, and near it was the island of. Lindisfarne, after wards the see of a bishop. The first king of whom we have any record is Ida, who is said to have obtained the throne about 547 Aethelfrith, king of Bernicia, united Deira to his own kingdom, probably about 605, and the union continued under his successor Edwin, son of Aelli, king of Deira. Bernicia was again separated from Deira under Eanf rith, son of Aethelf rith , after which date the kings of Bernicia were supreme in Northumbria.
See Bede, Hist. Eccles. ii. 14, iii. I, 14; Nennius, s. 63; Simeon of Durham, i. 339.