What is Ecgfrith of Northumbria?
[[File:Wars of Ecgfrith.svg|thumb|right|300px|{{Center|The wars of Ecgfrith of Northumbria}}]] '''Ecgfrith''' (or '''Egfrith'''; {{circa|646 AD}}–685 AD) was the King of [[Deira]] from 664 AD until 670 AD .{{efn|Deria was a sub-kingdom of Northumbria. Egfrith had been placed on the throne of Deira by his father.}} When his father died he became [[List of monarchs of Northumbria|King]] of [[Northumbria]] from 670 AD until his death. Ecgfrith ruled Northumbria when it was at the height of its power. His reign ended with his defeat at the [[Battle of Dun Nechtain|Battle of Nechtansmere]] in which he died. == Early life == Ecgfrith was a younger son of King [[Oswiu of Northumbria]] and his wife Enfleda.<ref name=Ashley284>Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 284</ref> She was the daughter of King [[Edwin of Northumbria]].<ref name=Marsden>John Marsden, ''Northanhymbre Saga; the History of the Anglo-Saxon Kings of Northumbria'' (London: Kyle Cathie Limited, 1992)</ref>{{rp|162}} He was born {{circa|646}}.<ref name=Marsden/>{{rp|162}} In 655 he was ten years old when [[Penda of Mercia]] took him hostage. In 660, at age fifteen, Ecgfrith was married to [[Etheldreda]], the daughter of King [[Anna of East Anglia]]. She was the widow of the ''[[:en:wikt:princeps|princips]]'' Tondberht of the [[Gyrwas|South Gyrwas]].{{efn|The people called the South Gyrwas occupied the [[:wikt:region|region]] of the [[Fens]] which included the present day [[Jarrow]] and [[Ely]].}}{{efn|Etheldreda was a beautiful young girl who wanted to devote herself to the Church and remain a virgin.<ref name=Fairweather17>''Liber Eliensis; a History of the Isle of Ely from the Seventh to Twelfth Century'', ed. Janet Fairweather (Woodbridge: Boydell, 2004), p. 17</ref> Her [[:wikt:parents|parents]] wanted her to marry however. When Tondberht asked for her hand in marriage her parents said yes, but Ethelreda refused.<ref name=Fairweather17/> Finally she agreed to marry, but she was resolved t