Ellendun, battle of

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Ellendun, battle of, 825. Egbert's victory over Beornwulf at the battle of Ellendun marks the transition of political overlordship within the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from Mercia to Wessex. Fought just south of Swindon near the modern village of Wroughton, it gave Egbert mastery of the critical strategic area leading into the middle Thames valley and prepared the way for assertion of effective West Saxon control of England south of the Thames and the south-west up to the borders of Cornwall. Beornwulf is a shadowy figure whose political authority rested on a shaky basis and whose connection with the old ruling Mercian dynasty was dubious. Within a twelvemonth of Ellendun he was killed on a campaign against the East Angles.

Henry Loyn

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Ellendun, battle of

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