Aella of Deira

Ælla (Ella, Ille) (d. 588), is the first known king of Deira. One of his sons was Edwin of Northumbria and his daughter Acha married Æthelfrith of Bernicia.

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he became king the same year as Ceawlin of Wessex (560) on the death of Ida of Bernicia, and ruled 30 years. However, the Chronicle records in the year 588 that Ælla died, and was succeeded by Aethelric. Possibly this is the reason Florence of Worcester offered the date Ælla came to the throne as 559, which would harmonize with a reign of thirty years.

The manuscripts of Matthew Parker, and their dependent copies, preserve the following genealogy of Ælla:

Ælla was the son of Yffe, the son of Uxfrea, the son of Wilgisl, the son of Westerfalca, the son of Sæfugl, the son of Sæbald, the son of Segegeat, the son of Swebdæg, the son of Sigegar, the son of Wædæg, the son of Woden.

Nothing more is known of Ælla, but he appears to be mentioned in the legendary saga Gautreks saga, where he is visited by the Geatish king Gautrek.

Preceded by: founder

King of Deira 559/560–588

Succeeded by: Aethelric