Bernicia

## Overview

The Earldom of Bernicia is an administrative division of Alba ruled by Earl Glúniairn Ó Chennselaig. Bernicia rules over the Germanic Scots in the south and the Northumbrians of Bearaig, and a small population of Highlanders in the far north, the region follows the Latin Christian faith. The lands of Bernicia can be found in the Southeasternmost territories of Alba along the border of Northumbria within Ængland, which lays claims of the Scottish lands of Bernicia but not the Highlander far North and claims Bearaig as a core territory, Bernicia is strategically important for Alba as it serves as the economic heart of the country pulling ahead of Caledonia with a reasonable margin, hence it 's southernmost territories host a series of forts designed to repel or at least slow an invader.

## Background

Bernicia can find its roots as independent Anglian Kingdom formed in the 6th Century when it was being settled by Anglo-Saxon peoples from Jutland and Northwest Germany, it was preceded by the Brittonic Kingdom of Brynaich, from which the name of Bernicia would be derived from. In 654 Bernicia would merge with the Kingdom of Deira to form Kingdom of Northumbria and retain it's autonomy as the Earldom of Bernicia, alongside the Earldom of Deira until the establishment of the Danelaw 865 which would annex Deira as a part of the Kingdom of Jórvík hence resulting the dissolution of Bernicia as an autonomous entity in favour of being the Northumbrian Crownland. Not long after the dissolution of the Danelaw and the reinstitution of Bernicia as an autonomous region within Northumbria the lands would be largely conquered by the Kingdom of Alba were they would continue to be administered as Bernicia but the unconquered lands would be integrated into the Earldom Deira, which remain as claims of Bernicia. Since it's annexation by Alba, Bernicia would develop it's own unique Scottish culture similar but distinct from the Northumbrian culture which it is derived from. In 1054 Earl Siward of Northumbria would invade Bernicia alongside the recently conquered Earldom of Strathclyde, the invasion would be unsuccessful in it's conquest objectives but would result in the death of Alban King Macbeth.

## Relationships

### Ængland

Bernician-Ænglish relations have been very hostile since Bernician annexation by Alba, and subsequent cultural divergence from Northumbrian to Scottish. Although Ænglish claims are limited to southern Bernicia, the Earldom of Northumbria, within Ængland, has more ambitious claims over Bernicia claiming all but the Pictish lands to the far North, in particular Bearaig has been a point of historic contention, retaining it's more historic Northumbrian culture, and being considered a core territory of Northumbria, in 1054 Earl Siward would invade Bernicia to take the claimed lands but would ultimately fail. To worsen the situation Bernicia claims it's lost lands as core claims and the former lands of Deira as regular claims.

### Caledonia

Bernician-Caledonian relations have been complicated since Bernician annexation by Alba. Although only having recently been invaded by Alba and thus by extension by Caledonia, Caledonian support against Northumbria and economic investment into Bernicia has fostered positive relations.

### Strathclyde

Bernician-Cumbric relations have remained complicated, In 1052 Strathclyde would join Siward of Northumbria in their failed conquest of Bernicia, which would result in Strathclyde being annexed by Alba, that said however both regions have had cooperate in acting as a united front against Ænglish militarism.