The Rise of Mercia 640 800 The Heptarchy

The Rise of Mercia 640 -800

The Heptarchy c. 700

Discuss political unification of England • Why were ancient Germanic and Celtic cultures predisposed toward political decentralization? • How did the following facilitate political unification? – Christianity • Writing • Rituals • Hierarchy – Adoption of coinage – Chance/luck – Invasions

Death of Penda c. 655

Mercia njoyed relative dynastic stability during the reigns of Aethelbald (716 -757) and Offa (757 -796).

Mercia Expanded Southward c. 670

Tribal Hidage c. 670 -730

Tribal Hidage c. 700 • • • • Hwinca syfan þusend hyda. 7, 000 Ciltern sætna feower þusend hyda. 4, 000 Hendrica þryu þusend hyda ond fif hund hyda. 3, 500 Unecungaga twelf hund hyda. 1, 200 Arosætna syx hund hyda. 600 Bilmiga syx hund hyda. 600 Widerigga eac swa. 600 Eastwilla syx hund hyda 600 Westwilla syx hund hyda 600 East engle þrittig þusend hida 30, 000 Eastsexena syofon þusend hyda 7, 000 Cantwarena fiftene þusend hyda 15, 000 Suþsexena syufan þusend hyda 7, 000 Westsexena hund þusend hyda. 100, 000

The Ismere Diploma 736 Charter during Aethelbald’s reign 716 -757

Chirograph

Coins of Offa

Coinage and trade • Generally speaking, the Welsh and the Scotts did not strike coins • The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms engaged more in trade and grain productions and therefore relied heavily on the availability of quality coinage • During the reign of Offa (757 -96) coinage reform established a standard for silver pennies that remained in effect for approximately 500 years

Discuss Campbell • Why was the letter from Charlemagne to Offa useful as a historical source? • What problems do historians of Mercia in the 700 s face? • What did the establishment of an archbishop in Lichfield indicate?

Lichfield Became an Archdiocese from 787 -799

Offa’s relations With the Church

Offa’s Dyke Constructed c. 780

Seal of Cenwulf 796 -816

Viking Invasions of the British Isles

Bede 672 -735

What did Bede have to say about Mercia? A. It was pagan during the reign of the powerful Penda B. It was converted by Celtic missionaries, Cedd and Chad C. Mercia came under Northumbrian domination during the reign of Oswy (Oswiu) D. King Wulfhere ruled Mercia during the late 600 s

Mercia is located in… 1. 2. 3. 4. Central England North of the Humber River Southeastern Britain West of Wales