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Mercia was an area of England in the times of the Anglo-Saxons and was situated in the centre of country. In Saxon times the area we now know as England was divided up into seven regions with a powerful ruler controlling each. The other areas were Wessex, Sussex, Kent, Northumbria, Essex and East Anglia. These seven regions are known as the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. These separate kingdoms finally came under the control of one king in the reign of Edgar I who reigned from 959 until 975.

This map shows the areas of England in 1065 that the most important Earls controlled.

Mini Timeline

865    The 'Great Army' invade
   A large army of Danes landed in East Anglia led by King Ivar the 'Boneless' and King Halfdan. No attempts were made to get rid of the invaders.1 
867    Danes are attacked and move south
   Armies from Northumbria attacked the Danes at York but were defeated. The Danes moved south attacking Nottingham and taking the city. The king of Mercia asked Ethelred and Alfred for assistance and an army from Wessex went to help.1 
868    Alfred marries Ealhswith
   Alfred marries the daughter of a Mercian nobleman. 
  Autumn  A peaceful settlement is reached
   Ethelred and Alfred married Mercian noble women whilst assisting the King of Mercia with the Danes on his land. A peaceful settlement was reached with the Danes and a Danegeld was paid for them to leave.1 
924  Jul 17  Edward the Elder dies
   Edward the Elder died (at Farndon in Mercia). He was succeeded by his son Athelstan.2 
925  Sep  Athelstan becomes King of Wessex and Mercia
   At this point Aethelstan was not king of all England, and had to wait until 927 to become overlord of all other kings. 
1013    Swein Fork-Beard and Canute attack England
   Swein Fork-Beard and his son Canute sailed from Denmark to attack England. Again London defended itself and the Vikings moved elsewhere, taking Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. 
1015  Qtr 3  Canute returns to England
   Canute invaded England taking control of Mercia and Northumbria. Aethelred was ill and England was in the hands of Edmund (Ironside). 
1017  Dec  Death of Eadric Streona
   Canute had the treacherous Ealdorman Eadric Streona of Mercia killed. 
1035  Nov 12  Canute dies
   King Canute died at Shaftesbury leaving the rule of the country in dispute between Harthacnut (the son of Emma) and Harold Harefoot (the son of Aelfgifu). The Earls of Northumbria and Mercia supported Harold's claim while Earl Godwine supported Harthacanute's. 
1067  Mar  William returns to Normandy
   William returned to Normandy taking as guests Edgar the Aetheling (the grandson of Edmund Ironside), Stigand (Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria and the brothers Edwin and Morcar.3 
1071    Dudley Castle Construction
   After Eadwin, the Earl of Mercia, was killed in the revolt against William his castle and lands at Dudley were given to William's Norman followers.4 
Other

Selection of references used:

1. Ronald McNair Scott, Alfred the Great, 0 86332 832 6
2. Richard Humble, The Fall of Saxon England
3. David Bates, William the Conqueror, 0-540-01175-4
4. Timbs & Gunn, Abbeys, Castles & Ancient Halls of England & Wales

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