Beornwulf of Mercia
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Beornwulf | |
---|---|
King of Mercia | |
Reign | 823–826 |
Predecessor | Ceolwulf I |
Successor | Ludeca |
Died | 826 |
Beornwulf (died 826) was the King of Mercia, a kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England, from 823 until his death in 826. His short reign saw the collapse of Mercia's supremacy over the other kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy.
Biography
Beornwulf became King of Mercia in 823 following the deposition of King Ceolwulf I.[1] His family, as well as the majority of his background, are unknown.[2] However, Beornwulf may be distantly related to a prior Mercian king, Beornred, as well as two subsequent rulers, Beorhtwulf and Burgred— all members of the so-called B-dynasty or group.[3] Though this is only speculation, alliterative names were prevalent in Anglo-Saxon royal families, and the confirmed kin of these leaders also had names that began with B.[4][5]
Prior to becoming king, Beornwulf is mentioned as having witnessed a charter of King Coenwulf in 812 and another of King Ceolwulf I in 823, but his position on each of these charters suggests that he was not of an exceptionally high rank.[2]
In 825 Beornwulf marched against the West Saxons. Beornwulf's army met them at
.In the wake of these events, Mercia's dominance in southern England rapidly unravelled. Essex and Sussex switched their loyalty to Ecgberht; and the East Anglians asked for Ecgberht's protection against the Mercians in the same year. Beornwulf was killed by the East Anglians in battle while attempting to put down a rebellion.
Beornwulf rebuilt the
See also
- Kings of Mercia family tree
References
- required.)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-821716-9. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-873827-62-8. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-8014-1482-4. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Yorke, Barbara (1990). Kings And Kingdoms Of Early Anglo-Saxon England. Routledge. p. 119. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of St Peter at Gloucester". A History of the County of Gloucester, Volume 2. (William Page, ed.) London: Victoria County History, 1907. 53-61. British History Online
- ^ Hunt, William (1885). Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co. . In
- ^ Sawyer 1267, esawyer.org.uk, archived from the original on 19 January 2015, retrieved 14 January 2015