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Bernaccia (Bryneich / Berneich)
The Bernaccian Britons were the descendants of the southern Votadini tribes.
The state is mentioned in Old Welsh poetry, in the writings of Nennius and
elsewhere under the name of Bryneich or Brynaich. It is not quite clear
whether this is simply supposed to represent a Welsh version of the later
Anglian Bernicia, or was the name of a preceding Brythonic kingdom. However,
as the name seems to derive from the Brythonic word Berniccā / 'berna'
meaning gap or 'land of mountain passes', the latter hypothesis would appear
to be correct.
Calling upon either Corstopitum, just south of Hadrian's Wall, or Cataractonium (later
Catreath of the Mabinogion,
modern Catterick) as its capital, Bernaccia encompassed the land east of the Pennines from the
northern border of Ebrauc to the mass of the Lammermuir
Hills that separated it from the northern Goutodin. Its
traditional northern border was from Gefron (Yeavering, bordering the Cheviot Hills) across
to the sea to Din Guardi (Bamburgh). This is midway between the Walls, but considering the
fact that the kings of Bernaccia were descended from
Coel Hen, King of
Northern Britain, it seems likely
that the remaining few miles of territory would also be claimed by them.
Ynys Metcaut / Innis Metcaud (isle of winds) was the Celtic name for
Lindisfarne.
The kingdom is would have emerged as a Post-Roman Votadini territory (neighbouring the Selgovae
to the west) and its focus would have been more to the north than towards its southern neighbours. Like
Deywr immediately to the south, Bernaccia had a group of
Angles settled in its territory, and these Angles under Ida took control, effectively renaming the
kingdom with their Teutonic
 pronunciation of it as
Bernicia. |
547 |
Angles under Ida
take control of the kingdom, forcing out Morgan Bulc. Ebrauc
lays claims to Catraeth.
Apparently ruling the kingdom from a young age, Morgan Bulc remains the
titular ruler of Bernaccia from outside his kingdom, and fights on for many years. He appears to
shift his power base to Goutoddin, where he is
mentioned as ruling after Gawain absents the kingdom. It is possible he also claims the title of
High King. He is part of the
Confederation of British Kings of Elmet,
Alt Clut and
North Rheged
which, in 590, lays siege to Ynys Metcaut. He is also credited with arranging
the assassination of Urien Rheged, and defeating his son, so fatally weakening that
kingdom. |
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