Contested loyalties : regional and national identities in the midland kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, c. 700-c. 900

The Mercian supremacy has a relatively fixed place in the thought of contemporary Anglo-
Saxon historians, who have focused primarily on documentary evidence for the rivalry of
Mercian kings and Kentish archbishops. Less attention has been devoted to the shape of
the Mercian realm; a kingdom with a midland focus extending its reach permanently over
neighbouring kingdoms from the late seventh century onwards. Regional communities
absorbed within the new Mercian sphere played an active role in its construction,
influencing both Mercian development and their own futures, whilst the succession of each
new king offered opportunities for renegotiation of the terms of hegemony.
Using an interdisciplinary approach, this thesis uses an essentially chronological structure
to question varied political aims and pressures, defensive needs, and cultural, economic and
religious interests across the midland kingdoms, then to assess these as motivating factors
in the relationships of resistance and accommodation which formed the Mercian hegemony.
In chapter one it considers the diverse backgrounds of the independent midland kingdoms
during early Mercian expansion. In chapter two the specific case study of the takeover of
London is tackled, with its consequences for the East Saxons. The absorption of local
rights and delegation of Mercian influence and protection under Aethelbald is analysed in
chapter three as a key factor in regional power-relations amongst the Lindisse, Maagonsaete
and Hwicce. As Mercian hegemony expanded under Aethelbald and Offa, chapter four
considers strategies of accommodation and resistance within the kingdom of East Anglia.
In chapters five and six, the formation of a supra-regional Mercian community under Offa
and Coenwulf is considered, with the internal impact of key Mercian developments, such as
common defensive burdens and economic currency, the establishment and dissolution of
the Lichfield archbishopric, conquest and rebellion in East Anglia and Kent and external
relations with the Welsh, West Saxons and Franks. Local attempts made to stabilise and
augment the authority of their own lineages are discussed and how regional lineages
responded to the loss of royal power explored. The final chapter asks if forces of Mercian
regional interest and dynastic politics elicited multiple crises in the 820s, causing the
Mercian disintegration and allowing West Saxon invasion in 829 and the re-emergence of
disparate destinies for the midland kingdoms. This thesis argues that choices at a regional
level for unity or independence conditioned not only Mercian hegemony, but also responses
in each region to subsequent West Saxon and Scandinavian overlordship.