Aelle

king of Deira
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: Aella, Aelli
Quick Facts
Also spelled:
Aella or Aelli
Died:
588
Also Known As:
Aella
Aelli
Title / Office:
king (559-588), Deira
Notable Family Members:
son Edwin

Aelle (died 588) was the first king of Deira in northern England, whose people threw off the Bernician overlordship upon the death of Ida, king of Bernicia. Aelle became king, apparently in 559, while Ida’s descendants continued to reign in the northern kingdom. On Aelle’s death the Bernician king Aethelric again subdued Deira, but Aelle’s son Edwin (q.v.) would return to rule as the most powerful English ruler of the age.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.