670AD. Ecgfrith became king of Northumbria at the death of his father Oswiu. Prior to becoming King he had Married in 660AD Aethelthyth the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia. Shortly after his accession, however, she took the veil, this probably led to his long standing quarrel with Arch Bishop Wilfrid.
Early in Ecgfrith’s reign the Pictish tribes gathered in revolt and never one to sit around, he immediately gathered a troop of horsemen, rode north and joined with the forces of sub king Beornhaeth. Together they attacked the much larger force of Picts. The battle took place on the Plain of Manau. So fierce was the fighting that the bodies of the fallen Picts filled two rivers and the Saxons were able to cross over without getting their feet wet. With the area secured a new sub kingdom was created called Lothian.
674AD. Ecgfrith defeated Wulfhere of Mercia, seized Lindsey (Lincoln)and forced Wulfhere to pay tribute.
Ecgfrith married a second wife, Eormenburg. (Date not known, but before 678)
678AD. Ecgfrith expelled Arch Bishop Wilfrid.
679AD. Ecgfrith fought the Mercians under Aethelred at the River Trent where his younger brother Aelfwine was killed. Peace was restored between the two sides and Lindley given up, after Theodore of Canterbury intervened.
684AD. Ecgfrith sent an expedition to Ireland under the command of Berhtred. The general did not manage to take control of any land, but he did return with a large number of slaves and much plunder.
685AD. Ecgfrith headed north once more to do battle. This time the Picts were led by his cousin Bruide mac Bili and they met at the Battle of Nechtansmere (Possibly Dunnich in Forfarshire?) The Picts pretend to retreat and the following Saxons were drawn into the wetlands of Dunnichen, where they came under heavy attack by the rest of the Pictish army. Foundering in the swamp they became easy prey to the rain of stones and spears thrown by the Picts and were destroyed. Ecgfrith was killed in the battle.
