Ricsige of Northumbria

Ricsige (also rendered Ricsy, Ricsi or Ricsig) was King of Northumbria from 873^[2][3][1] to 876.^[2][1] He became king after Ecgberht I was overthrown and fled, with Wulfhere, Archbishop of York, to Mercia.

Ricsige
King of Northumbria
Reign	873–876 AD
Predecessor	Ecgberht I
Successor	Ecgberht II
Died	876 AD[1]
House	Northumbria

Career

In 872, Northumbria rebelled against the Great Heathen Army and their collaborators. The Northumbrians expelled Ecgberht I of Northumbria and Wulfhere of York.^[4][5] After the death of Ecgberht in 873, Ricsige became King of Northumbria, and restored Wulfhere as Archbishop of York.^[5]

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that the Great Heathen Army came north against the Northumbrians in 873.^[6] Halfdan Ragnarsson departed Repton in 875, bringing Northumbria under his dominion and destroying all of the monasteries.^[5] Halfdan would divide the land the following year amongst his followers,^[7] with Ricsige reportedly dying that same year from a broken heart according to the Flores Historiarum.^[8]

Popular culture

In 2020, Ricsige was featured in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, installed as the King of Northumbria by Halfdan Ragnarsson after Ecgberht's deposition.^[9]