Æthelric of Hwicce facts for kids
Æthelric was a king of the Hwicce, an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is now England. He was the son of Oshere, who was also a king. It's possible that Æthelric ruled alongside his brothers: Æthelheard, Æthelweard, and Æthelberht.
Life as a King
Most of what we know about Æthelric comes from old documents called charters. Charters were official papers that recorded important decisions, like granting land.
Early Records
In the year 692, Æthelric signed a charter for Æthelred, who was the King of Mercia. He did this alongside his brothers, Æthelheard, Æthelweard, and Æthelberht. The very next year, in 693, all four brothers also signed a charter that was issued by their father, King Oshere. This shows they were involved in important royal business.
Later Years and Rule
Later, in 706, Æthelric gave away some land. He did this with the permission of Cenred, who was the King of Mercia at that time.
By 736, Æthelric was still active in royal affairs. He signed a charter for Æthelbald, another King of Mercia. In this document, Æthelric was called Æthilric subregulus. This Latin term means "under-king" or "prince," suggesting he was a powerful ruler, but perhaps under the greater authority of the King of Mercia. He also received land from King Æthelbald in another old charter.
Family Connections
Æthelric had a relative named Osred. Osred was a thegn, which was a type of noble or lord in Anglo-Saxon times. In 743, King Æthelbald gave land to Osred, showing the connections within the royal families and their nobles.
