Aethelred I of Mercia facts for kids
Aethelred (also spelled Æthelred or Ethelred) was an early king of Mercia, an important kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England. He became king in 675 after his brother, Wulfhere, passed away. Like his brother, Aethelred was a powerful ruler. He was seen as an 'overlord' to other English kings. This meant he had power over them. But Aethelred is most remembered for his strong support of the church. He ruled Mercia until 704. Then, he decided to step down and become a monk at Bardney Abbey. He passed away in 716.
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A Powerful King and Church Supporter
Aethelred was the son of King Penda. Around the time he became king, he married Osthryth. She was the daughter of Oswiu, the King of Northumbria.
Early Reign and Battles
In 676, Aethelred attacked Kent. He wanted to make sure King Hlothhere of Kent remained loyal to Mercia. Aethelred's army caused a lot of damage in Kent. They even attacked Rochester.
A few years later, in 679, Aethelred continued a long-standing fight. This was a rivalry his father and brother had with Northumbria. Aethelred met King Ecgfrith of Northumbria at the River Trent. This river was an important border between the two kingdoms. In the battle, Ecgfrith's younger brother, Aelfwine, was killed. The Northumbrians were defeated.
Peace and the Church
To stop more fighting between the royal families, Theodore, the Archbishop of Canterbury, stepped in. He helped arrange a peace agreement between Northumbria and Mercia. This peace lasted for 50 years! For the rest of his time as king, Aethelred was respected as a powerful leader in England.
Aethelred was very dedicated to the church. He and his wife, Osthryth, founded Bardney Abbey in a region called Lindsey. Queen Osthryth had the bones of her uncle, Oswald of Northumbria, brought to Bardney. She wanted them buried there. At first, the monks were hesitant to accept Oswald's bones. This was because Oswald was from Northumbria, an old enemy. But eventually, they accepted the bones. Oswald was buried with great respect, like a saint.
Aethelred was also a good friend of Wilfrid, a bishop from York. In 691, Aethelred offered Wilfrid a safe place in Mercia. This was after Wilfrid had been forced to leave Northumbria. While Aethelred welcomed Wilfrid, his wife Osthryth was not happy. Wilfrid had been an enemy of her brother, King Ecgfrith of Northumbria.
Later Life and Retirement
Queen Osthryth faced some challenges in Mercia. She tried to promote the worship of Saint Oswald. But this reminded Mercians of old fights with Northumbria. In 697, Mercian noblemen murdered Queen Osthryth. She was suspected of being involved in the murder of Peada many years earlier. By this time, she had become a nun.
In 704, Aethelred decided to give up his throne and become a monk. His nephew, Cenred, became the new King of Mercia. Aethelred went to live at Bardney Abbey. This was the same place where his wife Osthryth had been buried. He even became the abbot (leader) of Bardney. Even as a monk, he stayed interested in Mercian politics. Two years after becoming a monk, he asked King Cenred to remain friends with his old friend, Bishop Wilfrid. Aethelred passed away in 716.
Family
Aethelred married Osthryth of Northumbria. It's possible he married a second time. He had two known children, but it's not certain which wife was their mother:
- Ceolred, who ruled as king of Mercia from 709 to 716.
- Ceolwald, who may have ruled briefly as king of Mercia in 716.
