⚔️ Houses of Bernicia & Deira Family Tree (547-867)

Discover the remarkable story behind the creation of one of Anglo-Saxon England's greatest kingdoms with this detailed Houses of Bernicia & Deira Family Tree, tracing the rival royal dynasties whose political alliances, marriages and shared bloodlines united to form the powerful Kingdom of Northumbria.

Unlike a traditional family tree focused on a single royal house, this carefully researched genealogical chart follows both the royal House of Bernicia and the royal House of Deira, illustrating how two competing kingdoms gradually became one through conquest, diplomacy and dynastic marriage. Beginning with the traditional founders Ida of Bernicia and Ælla of Deira, the chart follows each royal line before bringing them together through the marriages that permanently reshaped the history of northern England.

At the heart of the genealogy are two of the most significant royal unions in Anglo-Saxon history. Around 603 CE, King Æthelfrith of Bernicia married Acha, a princess of the House of Deira and sister of King Edwin. Their children, including Oswald and Oswiu, inherited the blood of both royal houses. A generation later, King Oswiu further strengthened this dynastic union by marrying Eanflæd, daughter of King Edwin of Deira, reinforcing the legitimacy and unity of the emerging Northumbrian kingdom.

These marriages were far more than family alliances—they helped forge the political foundations of a kingdom that would become one of the most influential centres of learning, Christianity and royal power in early medieval Britain. The chart follows the descendants of these unions through the royal House of Northumbria, illustrating how the bloodlines of Bernicia and Deira remained intertwined for generations.

Rather than presenting only a succession of kings, this artwork illustrates a true genealogical family tree by including parents, children, siblings, marriages and principal branches wherever the surviving historical evidence allows. Particular care has been taken to distinguish securely documented relationships from those that remain uncertain, ensuring the genealogy reflects the current historical evidence rather than later speculation.

Designed in House of Histories' signature medieval style, the artwork combines historical genealogy with elegant heraldic design, creating a striking display piece that is equally suited as an educational reference and a centrepiece for any history collection.

Whether displayed in a study, library, classroom, office or family home, this piece celebrates one of the defining dynastic stories of Anglo-Saxon England—the transformation of two rival kingdoms into the Kingdom of Northumbria through the enduring power of family, alliance and inheritance.

Perfect for:

• Anglo-Saxon history enthusiasts

• Northumbrian history collectors

• English royal history collectors

• Genealogists and family history researchers

• Medieval history lovers

• History teachers and students

• Museums, libraries and historical societies

• Gifts for history lovers

Every House of Histories genealogy begins with extensive historical research and is compiled using the best surviving historical evidence available at the time of publication. Where relationships are uncertain, incomplete or disputed by historians, these are clearly identified rather than reconstructed through speculation. Our aim is not simply to preserve names, but to preserve history as faithfully as the surviving sources allow.