Battlefields›Aethelbald of Mercia Invades Wessex 733
Early Medieval

Aethelbald of Mercia Invades Wessex 733

733
Somerset, England
Also known as: Mercian seizure of Somerton 733
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Wessex
Forces
West Saxon border forces
VS
Victor
Mercia (Aethelbald)
Forces
Mercian army
Outcome
Somerton captured; Somerset briefly under Mercian control
The Battle

History & Significance

Aethelbald of Mercia seized Somerton, the ancient capital of Somerset, demonstrating the depth of Mercian reach into West Saxon territory. By 733 Aethelbald had gathered so much power that Bede described him as ruling all the southern English kingdoms. West Saxon subordination at this period was near total.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Aethelbald of Mercia Invades Wessex 733

Compton Dundon hillfort with Dundon Beacon, east of Dundon
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Linear earthwork in Butleigh Wood
Scheduled monument · ~1.7 miles
Somerton Market Cross
Scheduled monument · ~1.9 miles
Medieval farmstead, E of Butleigh Wood
Scheduled monument · ~1.9 miles
The easternmost of three duck decoys on Walton Moor
Scheduled monument · ~2 miles
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