After King Ecgfrith eliminates his brother Alchfrith by devious means, he becomes the last uncontested King of Northumbria. His reign is punctuated by war with the Mercians in the south, the Picts in the north and with the rebellious Britons of Reghed. At home he enlists Bishop Wilfrid’s support to persuade his wife to become a nun so he can marry his mistress, but he remains childless.
Wilfrid proves to be a thorn in his side and, when he returns from exile with the Pope’s edict restoring him to his diocese, Ecgfrith imprisons him.

An ill-conceived raid on Ireland in which monasteries and churches are plundered loses the king the support of the Church and a year later, against the advice of Bishop Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Ecgfrith leads an army against the Picts. As Cuthbert prophesied, he and his army are lured to annihilation in the mountains of Badenoch.
His illegitimate half-brother, Aldfrith, succeeds him, but Northumbria never regains its previous dominance over Scotland. His reign is mainly peaceful, apart from his struggle with Bishop Wilfrid, who is exiled yet again. When Aldrith dies Wilfrid returns and supports Eadwulf of Bebbanburg’s claim to the throne against that of Aldfrith’s nine year old son, Osred. Northumbria is faced with catastrophe as various contenders subsequently struggle to take the throne. Will be kingdom be able to survive?
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