Wiglaf

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Wiglaf (d. 840), king of Mercia (827–9 and 830–40). Wiglaf's family background is not known, but he came to power in 827 at a time when several cadet lines were competing for the throne and, perhaps to help consolidate his position, he married Ælfflæd, the daughter of Ceolwulf I. In 829 Wiglaf was expelled by King Egbert of Wessex who had already greatly reduced Mercian control south of the Thames. Egbert ruled Mercia for a year, but Wiglaf returned in 830 and reasserted Mercian control in Middlesex and Berkshire. In 836 he presided over a church assembly at Croft (Leics.), which was attended by the archbishop of Canterbury and all the southern bishops. Wiglaf was the only one of his line to rule; his grandson Wigstan was murdered by the son of Wiglaf's successor Beorhtwulf and was subsequently venerated as a saint at Repton, where he and Wiglaf were buried.

Barbara Yorke

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