Hussa was the seventh known ruler of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bernicia, ruling for seven years from about 585 to about 592.
Though his succession has led some to conclude that Hussa was another son of Ida, founder of the kingdom of Bernicia, he is not among the list of Ida's twelve sons given by Chronicon ex chronicis, and he may rather have been leader of a rival Anglian faction. Little is known of Hussa's life and reign, however. At some point during his reign, the coalition forces of Rheged and the Brythonic kingdoms of Strathclyde, Bernicia and Elmet laid siege to Hussa and were almost successful in driving the Anglian Bernician kings out of Britain. It is thought this alliance ultimately failed due to arguments between the different British tribes culminating in the murder of Urien, the king of Rheghed, around 590 by his former ally, Morcant.[1]
Nevertheless, there is some evidence from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that following Hussa's death, there was a schism between his family and that of Æthelfrith, Hussa's successor, for it states that Hering son of Hussa, led Áedán mac Gabráin's forces against Æthelfrith at the Battle of Degsastan in 603.
The years of Hussa's reign are conjecture: the earliest authorities differ widely on the order and the regnal years of the kings between the death of Ida and the beginning of Æthelfrith's rule in 592/593. Historia Brittonum says that Hussa ruled for seven years, and while the dates of 585 to 592 have been estimated they are uncertain. Hussa's exact place in the Bernician genealogy is unclear.[2]
^Brian Hope-Taylor, Yeavering: an Anglo-British centre of early Northumbria (1977), pp. 292-293
^John Ashton Cannon, Anne Hargreaves, The Kings & Queens of Britain (2009), p. 51
Hussa was the seventh known ruler of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom ofBernicia, ruling for seven years from about 585 to about 592. Though his succession has...
Hussa can refer to: Hussa Ahmad Al-Sudayri Fussa, Tokyo HussaofBernicia, a sixth-century Northumbrian king This disambiguation page lists articles associated...
Bernicia (Old English: Bernice, Beornice) was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established by Anglian settlers of the 6th century in what is now southeastern Scotland...
kingdoms of the north. Hering, son of King HussaofBernicia, is said by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to have fought with Áedán mac Gabráin, King of Dál Riata...
Northumbria, a kingdom of Angles, in what is now northern England and south-east Scotland, was initially divided into two kingdoms: Bernicia and Deira. The two...
ruler Ida ofBernicia (Beornice) and became Ida's seat. The castle was briefly retaken by the Britons from his son Hussa during the war of 590 before...
Brittonum, Rhydderch is one of four Brythonic kings (along with Urien, Gwallog and Morcant) named as fighting against HussaofBernicia. This is often interpreted...
(bretwalda) of Kent (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). Siege of Lindisfarne: A Brythonic coalition lays siege to King HussaofBernicia at Lindisfarne...
Frithuwald ofBernicia ruled, perhaps from 579 to 585. He was the sixth known ruler of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom ofBernicia. Little is known of Frithuwald's...
retreats to the port city of Odessus (Varna) on the Black Sea Coast. Æthelfrith of Northumbria succeeds Hussa as king ofBernicia (Scotland). His accession...
The Battle of Degsastan was fought around 603 between king Æthelfrith ofBernicia and the Gaels under Áedán mac Gabráin, king of Dál Riada. Æthelfrith's...
(bretwalda) of Kent (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). Siege of Lindisfarne: A Brythonic coalition lays siege to King HussaofBernicia at Lindisfarne...
unsuccessful siege of Monokarton (modern Turkey). Hussa succeeds his brother Frithuwald as king ofBernicia (approximate date). Creoda becomes king of Mercia (according...
source and so to be relatively reliable. Commenting on the reign of the Bernician king Hussa, the regnal list states Contra illum quattuor reges, Urbgen et...
unsuccessful siege of Monokarton (modern Turkey). Hussa succeeds his brother Frithuwald as king ofBernicia (approximate date). Creoda becomes king of Mercia (according...
(559–560) Adda, King ofBernicia (560–568) Aethelric, King (568–572) Theodric, King (572–579) Frithuwald, King (579–585) Hussa, King (585–592) Æthelfrith...
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