BattlefieldsCeolwulf I of Mercia Deposed 823
Early Medieval

Ceolwulf I of Mercia Deposed 823

823
Mercia, England
Also known as: Mercia deposes Ceolwulf I 823 · Mercian civil strife 823
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Mercia, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Ceolwulf I of Mercia
Forces
royal household
VS
Victor
Mercian nobility
Forces
Mercian noble faction
Outcome
Ceolwulf I deposed; Beornwulf installed; Mercian leadership crisis ahead of Ellendun
The Battle

History & Significance

Ceolwulf I of Mercia was deposed after a short reign in 823 and Beornwulf took power. This leadership instability in Mercia preceded the catastrophic defeat at Ellendun in 825 and may have contributed to it. The Mercian habit of deposing kings who failed militarily or politically had deeply weakened the kingdom by the early ninth century.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Mercia

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Mercia