EDWIN, or EADWINE fe.585-633). A king of Northumbria. Ile was the son of King of Deira, and was only three years old on the death of his father. in 53S. Deira was invaded by Ethelric, the King of Bernicia, and the infant Edwin was carried in- his guardians into North Wales, where he was brought up. Later he lived as an exile under the protection of Cearl, King of and Rtedwald. the ruler of East Anglia. The latter in 617 raised an army, defeated and slew Ethelfrith, who hail succeeded his. father. Ethelrie, and restored Edwin to his father's throne. Soon after his return to Deira. Edwin suceeeded in redueing Bernicia, and established the Kingdom of Northumbria- Ile speedily ex tended his power over a large part of England, his authority stretching as far west as the islands of Anglesca and Man, and as far north as the town of Edinburgh. which he is believed to have fortified. and which still bears his name. Espe cially after 626, when he defeated the West Saxon Icing, Edwin was suzerain practically Of all Eng land save the Kingdom of Kent. with whose ruler
he was in alliance. having married the King's sister, Ethelburh, in 625. Ethelburh was a Chris tian, and owing to her influence and the exhor tations ref the missionary priest Pauline-, Edwin with his entire witan was brought over to Chris tianity in 627. He had previously been acknowl edged as Bretwahla, or leader of English, and his power increased greatly atter his conversion. Lr 633 Penda of Mereia, the most powerful prince in England after Edwin, and the champion of the old heathen religion, united with the Welsh against the Northumbrian King. and on october 12. 633, inflicted an overwhelming defeat upon hint at Edwin himself was killed, the Kingdom of Northumbria fell apart. and Christianity for a time was extinguished in northern England. Consult Green, The Making of L'nyland ( London and New York, 1881).