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IV.VI Anarchy and confusion in the year 796.

Anglo-Saxon England was thrown into a state of confusion, following a breakdown of order in the year 796. The omnipotent king ◊ffa of Mercia died in this year and many kings and nobles fought to fill the power vacuum created in several kingdoms formerly under Mercian rule. ◊ffa  effectively controlled all five major English countries, and had died arguably the most successful Anglo-Saxon king ever. In 796 ◊ffa was king of Mercia, king of East Anglia by conquest, king of Kent by conquest, Overlord of Wessex through its dependant king and his daughter was married to the Northumbrian king. His grip on power was absolute. When he died everything changed ......

Mercia. AD 796.

◊ffa died as Bretwalda, or ruler of the English. His power is evident from extant charters. He deposed kings almost at will, imprisoned some, demoted others to the rank of duke, exiled many and executed others. Several were dependant on him, and certain were client kings. In a show of strength he had his eldest son Ecgferth crowned and annointed to succeed him in AD 787.

Offa's son Ecgferth survived his father to become sole ruler of Mercia, but reigned for only 141 days. He died on December 14th 796 under uncertain circumstances.

Following Ecgferth's brief five month reign the Mercian throne passed to a distant relative through the female line, Cœnvulf, who may or may not have been involved in his death. Cœnvulf was a strong ruler in the tradition of ◊ffa, and won back the briefly independant territories for Mercia. He ruled until his death in 821.

Tribrach Moline penny of Cœnvulf of Mercia. Minted by Sebeorht at Canterbury after 798.

East Anglia. AD 796.

◊ffa of Mercia had ruled East Anglia directly since betraying, capturing and executing its king Æthelberht in 794. Æthelberht was later sainted and Hereford Cathedral dedicated to him. ◊ffa died July 26th 796.

Upon ◊ffa's death an otherwise unknown noble of the East Anglian royal house, Eadwald, made a push for the throne but was prevented by Ecgferth. After Ecgferth's death Eadwald successfully became king and held on to power for two years. In 798 Cœnwulf reconquered East Anglia and ruled it directly until his death. Eadwald is virtually unknown to history. The chronicles make no mention of an East Anglian monarch at this time. All we know of Eadwald comes from his [extremely rare] coinage. We do not even know if he was deposed and exiled or killed in 798.

Quatrefoil penny of Eadwald of East Anglia. Minted by Eadnoth, one of ◊ffa's moneyers, between 796 and 798. This coin is so rare it is classed as a Great Rarity.

Kent. AD 796.

◊ffa had ruled Kent directly for 11 years up to his death in 796, although he had overseen it previously through client and dependant kings. Several Kentish and Kentish provincial monarchs were deposed under his rule. Upon his death in 796, Kent strove for independence.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states under the year 796, that Eadberht "who was by another name Praen" took possession of Kent. He had previously been exiled by ◊ffa to the continental court of Charlemagne, where he had apparently taken holy orders. He ruled Kent from 796-798, approximately contemporary with Eadwald in East Anglia. Coenvulf obtained papal approval for a reconquest of Kent in 798, the reason given being that Eadberht was an apostate priest. Eadberht III Praen was captured and taken bound into Mercia, where he was imprisoned in a monastary ruled by Cœnvulf's daughter Cœnthryth. He was subsequently ritually mutilated, by having his eyes put out and his hands cut off. Cœnvulf later released him as an act of clemency, but not before he was forced to witness the annointing of Cœnwulf's brother Cuthred as king of Kent, 798-807. The reign of Eadberht Praen was the last time Kent existed as an independant kingdom.

Northumbria. AD 796.

Aethelred I of Northumbria was murdered by his bodyguard on the night of 18th April 796 at Corbridge, after a second reign of seven years. He had ruled ruthlessly [twice] with an iron hand. Many rival claimants had been mutilated, imprisoned, exiled and executed. Contemporary chroniclers call him a tyrant.

Upon Aethelred's death a veteran Ealdorman Osbald became king. His short reign lasted only 27 days, before the royal household abandoned him and the people deserted him. He was exiled to Lindisfarne, and later given refuge by Constantine king of the Picts. He was known as a bloodthirsty tyrant and homicidal murderer even before he became king. He had had another ealdorman, Beorn, burned alive. Alcuin notes Osbald's pagan hairstyle.

Ealdorman Eardwulf was chosen king after the forced exile of Osbald. Æðelred I had ordered him put to death at Ripon, outside the monastery gates, but he had survived probably through the deliberately botched attempts of the executioners. He became king on 14th May 796, and was consecrated by archbishop Eanbald I of York and other bishops on 26th May 796, at York. Eardwulf reigned 796-806. He was deposed by Ælfwald II with the assistance of Cœnvulf of Mercia. Although sometimes strenuously opposed and eventually deposed and exiled, he founded a dynasty that ruled Northumbria after him. His son Eanred and grandson Æthelred II both reigned in turn for over 30 years each.

Wessex. AD 796.

King Beorhtric of Wessex managed to survive the anarchy of 796, although he was a Mercian dependant. He ruled 786-802.

The Church. AD 796.

Eanbald I was elected archbishop of York in 780. He was solemnly consecrated in 782 after Alcuin had fetched his pallium from Rome. His life included much good work, he carried on the great school of York and was justly proud of its famous library. His last public act was to crown Eardvulf king of Northumbria, on 25th June 796. Eanbald I died on August 10th 796, at Etlete monastery. His body was brought to York for interrment.

Following the death of Eanbald I, Eanbald II was chosen as his successor on 14th August 796. He was solemnly confirmed in office on 8th September 797 after recieving the pallium from Rome. He had been educated at the York school under the famous scholar Alcuin. He is remembered for assisting archbishop Æthelheard of Canterbury to recover the prerogatives lost by the creation of the archbishopric of Lichfield under Offa of Mercia. He is thought to have introduced the Roman Rite into the church of York. Archbishop Eanbald II died c.835.

Base silver sceat of archbishop Eanbald II of York. Minted by Eardvulf of York c. 825 ?

Sources : Wikipedia website. Catholic Encyclopedia website. Britannia Biographies website. Books : Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Anne Savage Ed. Anglo-Saxon England. Sir Frank Stenton. Coins of England and the United Kingdom 2007. Spink.

• Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 20/05/2007.
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