A SECRET WEAPON FOR EGGBET

Little is thought of the very first twenty years of Ecgberht's reign, but it really is believed that he was able to keep up the independence of Wessex versus the kingdom of Mercia, which at that time dominated one other southern English kingdoms. In 825, Ecgberht defeated Beornwulf of Mercia, ended Mercia's supremacy within the Battle of Ellandun,