Ecgberht II of Northumbria (837-879) was King of Northumbria from 876 to 878, succeeding Ricsige and preceding Eadwulf II. He backed the Anglo-Saxon uprising against Ivar Ivarsson's occupying Danes in York in 878, only for himself be overthrown by the Danish Christian ruler Guthred that same year.
Biography[]
Ealdorman Ecgberht the Second in battle armor, 868
Ecgberht was born in 837, and, following the death of King Ricsige of Northumbria in 876, he became the new Danish puppet ruler of Bernicia. He reigned over the Anglo-Saxons beyond the River Tyne, and, in 878, Ecgberht, encouraged by the news of Alfred the Great's victory at the Battle of Edington, backed Father Hrothweard's uprising against the Danish garrison of York. However, that same year, the Danish Christian king Guthred of Cumberland (aided by Abbot Eadred Lulisc and Uhtred of Bebbanburg) marched on York at the head of the "Army of the Holy Man", an army consisting of both Anglo-Saxon and Danish warriors. Ecgberht's own bodyguards deserted him before the two armies could meet, leaving Ecgberht with only 28 men under his command. The people of York deserted the city out of fear that Ivar Ivarsson would return and crush the Saxons, and the remaining residents welcomed Guthred's army into the city without opposition. Ecgberht was dragged from his bedchamber to the great hall, where Jarl Ulf, Abbot Eadred, and Uhtred attempted to convince Guthred to have the elderly Ecgberht executed to end his claim to the throne. However, Guthred was inspired by Alfred's benevolence, and he decided to spare him and send him to a monastery to the south of the river. Ecgberht remained at the monastery until he died of a degenerative disorder by 879. He was then succeeded by his son Eadwulf II of Northumbria.