Ethelred

Family: Mercians · Role: king · First appears: Book III · Chap. XI

After Wulfhere, king of the Mercians, died after seventeen years of rule, Ethelred succeeded him. As king, he was married to Osthryth, and the couple greatly loved and venerated the monastery of Beardaneu. He was also named among the rulers under Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury.

Around c. 678, Ethelred fought Egfrid near the river Trent, where Aelfwine, Egfrid’s brother and Osthryth’s brother, was slain. Theodore intervened to end the danger of further war, and “this peace continued long after between those kings and between their kingdoms.” In the same period, Ethelred ordered Oftfor’s consecration as bishop by Wilfrid.

Later, Ethelred’s son Ceolred succeeded to the Mercian throne. Ethelred made Coenred king in his own stead, and, after becoming an abbot, supported Wilfrid and persuaded Coenred to make peace with him: “begged him to be friends with Wilfrid, in which request he prevailed.” He was also among the kings whom the Pope addressed concerning the restoration of John to his bishopric.