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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

865The '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.
867Danes 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.
868Alfred marries Ealhswith
Alfred marries the daughter of a Mercian nobleman.
AutumnA 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.
924Jul 17Edward the Elder dies
Edward the Elder died (at Farndon in Mercia). He was succeeded by his son Athelstan.
925SepAthelstan 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.
1013Swein 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.
1015Qtr 3Canute returns to England
Canute invaded England taking control of Mercia and Northumbria. Athelred was ill and England was in the hands of Edmund (Ironside).
1017DecDeath of Eadric Streona
Canute had the treacherous Ealdorman Eadric Streona of Mercia killed.
1035Nov 12Canute 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.
1067MarWilliam 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.
1071Dudley 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.

See Also

  ATHELSTAN (King of the English 924-939)
  EDGAR (I, King of the English 959-975)
  EDWARD (The Martyr, King of the English 975-978)
  EDMUND (II Ironside, King of the English 1016)
  CANUTE (King of England 1016-1035)
  Lichfield Cathedral
  Hereford Cathedral
  Peterborough Cathedral
  Sihtric (Norse King of York)
  Wenlock Priory
  Chester Cathedral
  Athelred (King of Wessex 866-871)
  ALFRED (The Great, King of Wessex 871-899)
  Hardrada, Harold
  Whitby Abbey
  Leofric (Earl of Mercia)
  Dudley Castle
  Athelswith (Daughter of Athelwulf)
  Athelflaed (Lady of the Mercians)
  Streona, Eadric


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