603. Battle at Degsastan: between the Northumbrians and the Scots
Bede records that in 603 Æthelfrith defeated Aedan, king of the Irish living in Britain (HE, i.34; Aedan was king of the Dal Riada in Scotland). Aedan had marched against Æthelfrith with a very strong army, but the British king was defeated and his army cut to pieces at "Degsa's Stone" (perhaps Dawston Rigg in Liddesdale?). Bede notes further that Æthelfrith's brother Theobald was killed along with the whole of his army (presumably Theobald led part of the Northumbrian army). One manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle adds the detail that Hering, son of Hussa, led the army. No more is known of Hering, but Hussa (588-92?) seems to have been Æthelfrith's predecessor as king of Bernicia (see entry on c.450 to 651).