Mercian Supremacy

Question 1

Æthelbald

Answer 1

716-57

Question 2

Æthelbald’s common title

Answer 2

Rex merciorum

Question 3

Æthelbald territorial control according to Bede

Answer 3

‘all these kingdoms and the other southern kingdoms which reach right up to the Humber, together with their various kings, are subject to Æthelbald, king of Mercia’

Question 4

Context of Bede’s claim of Æthelbald’s territory

Answer 4

in an ecclesiastical context

Question 5

Æthelbald gifts to others

Answer 5

Exceptions from tolls in London rather than grants of land. Owns little land? Recognised the importance of land?

Question 6

Æthelbald attacks Northumbria

Answer 6

737, ASC, ‘ravaged Northumbria’

Question 7

Æthelbald’s territorial control: charters

Answer 7

Ismere Diploma, 736. ‘king not only of the Mercians but also of all provinces which are called by the general name ‘south-english’ (Suutanglorum)

Question 8

Hwicce subking under Æthelbald

Answer 8

Æthelric, sub-king, Ismere Diploma

Question 9

Wessex in the time of Æthelbald

Answer 9

‘Cuthred fought stoutly against King Æthelbald,’ ASC, 740.

‘Cuthred fought at Beohford against Æthelbald, king of the Mercians, and put him to flight.’ ASC 752

Question 10

Bretwalda

Answer 10

Does not appear in Bede, first appears in the ASC for 829

Question 11

Simon Keynes on Ismere Diploma

Answer 11

‘[ruled] over the ‘Anglian’ peoples of the midlands (‘South English’ as opposed to ‘north’ English of Northumbria and the ‘east’ English of East Anglia); and it might be safer, therefore, to interpret the style in this more restricted sense.’