Beorhtric of Wessex
Encyclopedia
Beorhtric (meaning 'Magnificent ruler') was the King of Wessex from 786 to 802.
In 786, Cynewulf, king of Wessex
, was killed by the exiled noble Cyneheard
, brother of the former King Sigeberht
. Beorhtric's successful bid for the throne was supported by Offa
, king of the Mercians against Egbert
. It is not entirely clear why Offa intervened in Beorhtric's favour, though it seems likely that the opportunity to influence West Saxon politics, and thus preserve the Mercian Ascendancy were important factors. Additionally, it is suggested that Egbert was a descendant of the Kentish dynasty that, under Eahlmund
, had rebelled against Offa's rule and beaten him at the battle of Otford.
To an extent, Beorhtric seems to have been subject to Offa's authority. In 787, he held the Synod of Chelsea
jointly with Offa, and in 789 he married one of Offa's daughters, Eadburh
. Land that had traditionally been on the borders of Mercian and Wessex were administered by the Mercian court, as is seen in Charters
of Offa, and his son Ecgfrith. West Saxons seem to have used Offa's currency: a recent survey of early medieval single coin finds reveals a trail of Offa pennies
running from the Upper Thames to Wareham
, a site connected with Beorhtric.
It was during Beorhtric's reign that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
records the first Viking
raids on England occurred. In 789, they landed on the Dorset
coast, near the Isle of Portland
, where they killed a royal official, the shire reeve
.
After Offa's death in 796, Mercia
n power over England was weakened, and Beorhtric may have exercised more independence during this period. The only two West Saxon coins to have survived from Beorhtric's reign were produced at this time, suggesting that he had established a new mint. One of these coins was found in 1854, two miles outside of Andover
. Within a few years Offa's successor, Coenwulf
, had restored Mercia's position, and after 799, Beorhtric's relationship with the Mercians seems to have been similar to the situation before Offa's death.
In later years Asser
, a scholar at Alfred the Great
's court, recorded the story that Beorhtric had died from being accidentally poisoned by his wife, Eadburh. She fled to a nunnery in Francia, from which she was later ejected after being found with a man. The provenance of this story is dubious.
In 786, Cynewulf, king of Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
, was killed by the exiled noble Cyneheard
Cyneheard the Atheling
Cyneheard the Atheling was the brother of Sigeberht, briefly King of Wessex. Sigeberht was deposed in 757 with the agreement of the Witan. Cynewulf of Wessex succeeded as King....
, brother of the former King Sigeberht
Sigeberht of Wessex
Sigeberht was the King of Wessex from 756 to 757.Sigeberht succeeded his distant relative Cuthred, but was then accused of acting unjustly. He was removed from power by a council of nobles, but given control of Hampshire. There, he was accused of murder, driven out and ultimately killed...
. Beorhtric's successful bid for the throne was supported by Offa
Offa of Mercia
Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa, Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald after defeating the other claimant Beornred. In the early years of Offa's reign it is likely...
, king of the Mercians against Egbert
Egbert of Wessex
Egbert was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. His father was Ealhmund of Kent...
. It is not entirely clear why Offa intervened in Beorhtric's favour, though it seems likely that the opportunity to influence West Saxon politics, and thus preserve the Mercian Ascendancy were important factors. Additionally, it is suggested that Egbert was a descendant of the Kentish dynasty that, under Eahlmund
Ealhmund of Kent
Ealhmund was King of Kent in 784.The only contemporary evidence of him is an abstract of a charter dated in that year, in which Ealhmund granted land to the Abbot of Reculver...
, had rebelled against Offa's rule and beaten him at the battle of Otford.
To an extent, Beorhtric seems to have been subject to Offa's authority. In 787, he held the Synod of Chelsea
Synod of Chelsea
There were a number of Synods of Chelsea held in Anglo-Saxon England. They were held at Cealchythe, in Kent, generally identified with modern Chelsea, London.-787:King Offa of Mercia presided over a church council held at Chelsea in the 787...
jointly with Offa, and in 789 he married one of Offa's daughters, Eadburh
Eadburh
Eadburh , also spelled Eadburg, was the daughter of King Offa of Mercia and Queen Cynethryth. Married to King Beorhtric of Wessex, Asser's Life of Alfred the Great tells how she accidentally killed her husband by poison. She fled to Francia, where she is said to have been offered the chance of...
. Land that had traditionally been on the borders of Mercian and Wessex were administered by the Mercian court, as is seen in Charters
Charters
Charters is a surname and may refer to :* Ann Charters , American professor of English* Charlie Charters , former English rugby union official and sports marketing executive* Frank Charters, , English cricketer...
of Offa, and his son Ecgfrith. West Saxons seem to have used Offa's currency: a recent survey of early medieval single coin finds reveals a trail of Offa pennies
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
running from the Upper Thames to Wareham
Wareham
Wareham may refer to several different places:* Wareham, Dorset, England* Wareham, Massachusetts, United States* Wareham, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada* Wareham Island, Nunavut, Canada...
, a site connected with Beorhtric.
It was during Beorhtric's reign that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
records the first Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
raids on England occurred. In 789, they landed on the Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
coast, near the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, where they killed a royal official, the shire reeve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
.
After Offa's death in 796, Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
n power over England was weakened, and Beorhtric may have exercised more independence during this period. The only two West Saxon coins to have survived from Beorhtric's reign were produced at this time, suggesting that he had established a new mint. One of these coins was found in 1854, two miles outside of Andover
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
. Within a few years Offa's successor, Coenwulf
Coenwulf of Mercia
Coenwulf was King of Mercia from December 796 to 821. He was a descendant of a brother of King Penda, who had ruled Mercia in the middle of the 7th century. He succeeded Ecgfrith, the son of Offa; Ecgfrith only reigned for five months, with Coenwulf coming to the throne in the same year that Offa...
, had restored Mercia's position, and after 799, Beorhtric's relationship with the Mercians seems to have been similar to the situation before Offa's death.
In later years Asser
Asser
Asser was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court...
, a scholar at Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
's court, recorded the story that Beorhtric had died from being accidentally poisoned by his wife, Eadburh. She fled to a nunnery in Francia, from which she was later ejected after being found with a man. The provenance of this story is dubious.