History Files Nav bar
 

 

Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Celts of Britain

 

 

 

View Map of Celtic Britain 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 Descent of the Kingdoms of Northern Britainpronunciation of it as Bernicia.

c.420 -       

Garbanion ap Coel

Son of Coel Hen, King of Northern Britain.

c.445

Dyfnwal Moelmud (the Bald & Silent)

c.475

Cyngar ap Dyfnwal

Son.

c.490s - c.500s

Bran Hen (the Old)

Brother.

- 547

Morgan Bulc

High King? Last British King of Bernaccia. Dispossessed.

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.