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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. His name derives from the Old English terms beorn 'man, warrior' and wulf 'wolf'.[1][2][3][4]
| Beornwulf | |
|---|---|
;_struck_823%E2%80%93825_AD_(obverse).png) | |
| King of Mercia | |
| Reign | 823–826 |
| Predecessor | Ceolwulf I |
| Successor | Ludeca |
| Died | 826 |
Biography
editBeornwulf became King of Mercia in 823 following the deposition of King Ceolwulf I.[5] His family, as well as the majority of his background, are unknown.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9]
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.[6]
In 825 Beornwulf marched against the West Saxons. Beornwulf's army met them at Ellandun (now Wroughton near Swindon in Wiltshire). Although the details are unknown, the battle ended in a disastrous defeat for the Mercians, and is seen by historians as the end of the so-called Mercian Supremacy. That same year, Ecgberht's son Æthelwulf invaded Kent and drove out its pro-Mercian king, Baldred.
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 Abbey of St. Peter (later Gloucester Cathedral)[10] and he presided over two synods at Clofesho (an unknown location believed to be near London with Archbishop Wulfred of Canterbury, in 824 and 825.[11] A Kentish charter shows that Beornwulf still had authority in Kent on 27 March 826 – S1267[clarification needed], issued on that date, is said to be in the third year of Beornwulf's reign.[12] Coins minted during Beornwulf's reign are very rare, with only around 25 known examples.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "berne, n.", Oxford English Dictionary (3 ed.), Oxford University Press, 2 March 2023, doi:10.1093/oed/2335390817, retrieved 16 October 2024
- ^ "beorn", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 3 July 2022, retrieved 16 October 2024
- ^ "wolf, n.", Oxford English Dictionary (3 ed.), Oxford University Press, 6 February 2024, doi:10.1093/oed/6647787904, retrieved 16 October 2024
- ^ "wulf", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 30 September 2024, retrieved 16 October 2024
- ^ Kelly, S. E. (2004). "Beornwulf (d. 826?), king of the Mercians". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2183. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 21 December 2023. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b Stenton, F.M. (1971). Anglo-Saxon England (3rd ed.). Oxford at The Clarendon Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-19-821716-9. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Zaluckyj, Sarah (2001). Mercia: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Central England. Logaston Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-873827-62-8. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Wormald, Patrick (1982). "The Ninth Century". In Campbell, James (ed.). The Anglo-Saxons. Cornell University Press. p. 138. 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). . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ Sawyer 1267, esawyer.org.uk, archived from the original on 19 January 2015, retrieved 14 January 2015