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Battle of Ellandun

Beornwulf's defeat at the Battle of Ellandun marked the end of Mercian dominance

The Battle of Ellandun (also spelled Ellendun) was fought in 825 between the armies of Egbert of Wessex and Beornwulf of Mercia. Although costly to both sides, King Egbert won. The battle effectively brought an end to Mercian supremacy in southern England. It gave Wessex dominance over the remaining Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the south. A century later the kingdom of Wessex became the kingdom of England.

Background

Vikings murdered every one during the 8th century and early 9th centuries, the kings of Mercia exercised varying degrees of overlordship over the kingdoms of south-eastern England. Some even ruled other kingdoms directly. While Wessex had at times been obliged to recognise the power of Mercian kings there was usually a strong resistance to allowing them to directly rule Wessex.

Beorhtric of Wessex (786–802) had probably received help from Offa of Mercia (757–796) in becoming king of Wessex.[1] In 789 he married Eadburh, Offa's daughter.[2] For the remainder of his rule Wessex was subordinate to Mercia.[2] At the time Beorhtric became king, Egbert was also a claimant. Edgar was exiled for a time from Wessex and spent most of his time at the court of Charlemagne. On the death of Beorhtric Egbert returned and succeeded to the throne. At this time Coenwulf of Mercia (796–821) was king and he concluded a peace treaty with Wessex.

In 815 Egbert invaded Cornwall and brought it under his rule.[3] He allowed sub-kings to rule it for him. Beginning in 825 Egbert began a series of military operations with the intent of increasing his over Wales. At the same time the new king of Mercia, Beornwulf, having had extended his authority over Kent, Essex and Middlesex decided to invade Wessex.[4]

The battle

Egbert was in Cornwall with his army when he received word that the Mercians had invaded Wessex. He led his army back into Wessex and met Beornwulf and his army at Ellendun (now Wroughton south of Swindon).[a][5] In what Frank Stenton called "one of the most decisive battles of Anglo-Saxon history", Egbert defeated Beornwulf.[5] The battle was costly to both sides in loss of life. Henry of Huntingdon said the river ran red with blood.[6] The victory over Mercia shifted the balance of power to Egbert. He was now the most accomplished king in southern England.

Shift in power

Immediately Egbert sent his son Athelwulf with an army to overthrow Baldred, the Mercian sub-king in Kent.[7] As a result, all of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and East Anglia submitted to Egbert.[7] Beornwulf tried to recover East Anglia later the same year and was killed in the attempt.[5] Kent, Surrey and Sussex remained a part of the kingdom of Wessex from this time on.[b] Egbert appointed his son Athelwulf as sub-king of Kent which included all the new territories of Wessex.[7]

In 829 Egbert invaded, then defeated all of Mercia.[7] Wiglaf was exiled. The king of Northumbria submitted to him after the defeat of Mercia. He assumed the title Latin: Rex Merciorum (King of Mercia). This title was also on coins made in the former Mercian port of London.[9] In 830 Wiglaf returned to power in Mercia, but the gains of Kent and southwest England remained with Wessex. Egbert died 4 February 839.[10] He left a territory larger than any other Wessex king since Ine.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ This part of Wessex had been disputed for some time by both Wessex and Mercia[5]
  2. ↑ Essex was later lost to the Danes.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Barbara Yorke, Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 141
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 312
  3. ↑ Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 314
  4. ↑ Dictionary of World Biography, Vol. II Middle Ages, eds. Frank N Magill; Alison Aves (Oxford; New York: Routledge, 1998), p. 333
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 231
  6. ↑ George Bond, 'Links between "Beowulf" and Mercian History', Studies in Philology, Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct., 1943), p. 493
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Barbara Yorke, Wessex in the early Middle Ages (London; New York: Leicester University Press, 1995), p. 94
  8. ↑ Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 233
  9. ↑ Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 232
  10. ↑ Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 78
  11. ↑ Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 235
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