Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox royalty Beornwulf (died 826) was the King of Mercia, a kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England, from 823 until his death in 826. His short reign saw the collapse of Mercia's supremacy over the other kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. His name derives from the Old English terms beorn 'man, warrior' and wulf 'wolf'.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
BiographyEdit
Beornwulf became King of Mercia in 823 following the deposition of King Ceolwulf I.<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref> His family, as well as the majority of his background, are unknown.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> However, Beornwulf may be distantly related to a prior Mercian king, Beornred, as well as two subsequent rulers, Beorhtwulf and Burgred— all members of the so-called B-dynasty or group.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Though this is only speculation, alliterative names were prevalent in Anglo-Saxon royal families, and the confirmed kin of these leaders also had names that began with B.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Prior to becoming king, Beornwulf is mentioned as having witnessed a charter of King Coenwulf in 812 and another of King Ceolwulf I in 823, but his position on each of these charters suggests that he was not of an exceptionally high rank.<ref name=":0" />
In 825 Beornwulf marched against the West Saxons. Beornwulf's army met them at Ellandun (now Wroughton near Swindon in Wiltshire). Although the details are unknown, the battle ended in a disastrous defeat for the Mercians, and is seen by historians as the end of the so-called Mercian Supremacy. That same year, Ecgberht's son Æthelwulf invaded Kent and drove out its pro-Mercian king, Baldred.
In the wake of these events, Mercia's dominance in southern England rapidly unravelled. Essex and Sussex switched their loyalty to Ecgberht; and the East Anglians asked for Ecgberht's protection against the Mercians in the same year. Beornwulf was killed by the East Anglians in battle while attempting to put down a rebellion.
Beornwulf rebuilt the Abbey of St. Peter (later Gloucester Cathedral)<ref>"Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of St Peter at Gloucester". A History of the County of Gloucester, Volume 2. (William Page, ed.) London: Victoria County History, 1907. 53-61. British History Online</ref> and he presided over two synods at Clofesho (an unknown location believed to be near London with Archbishop Wulfred of Canterbury, in 824 and 825.<ref>Template:Cite DNB</ref> A Kentish charter shows that Beornwulf still had authority in Kent on 27 March 826 – S1267Template:Clarifyme, issued on that date, is said to be in the third year of Beornwulf's reign.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Coins minted during Beornwulf's reign are very rare, with only around 25 known examples.
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