River Idle, battle of the

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River Idle, battle of the, 616. According to Bede, Edwin, young son of Aelle, king of Deira, was driven out of the kingdom by Æthelfric, king of Bernicia, and at length took refuge with Rædwald, king of East Anglia. Rædwald resisted demands by Æthelfryth, successor to Æthelfric, to surrender Edwin and accompanied him to the river Idle, west of Gainsborough, where they won a great victory. Edwin took both Deira and Bernicia and the united Northumbria made a vigorous effort at domination, Edwin claiming the bretwalda-ship.

J. A. Cannon