WI: England united under the Mercians in the 9th Century

[perdu42]

An interesting idea but, it was Northumbria that had most revolts against Wessex rule. On the other hand, Essex, Kent etc weren't part of the Danelaw and yet didn't have any problems with legitimacy of the House of Wessex.

[FONT=&quot]Would you mind quantifying that statement?

In looking at the periods of overlordship and incorporation, Kent and Essex were subject to Mercian hegemony before they came under the rule of Wessex. As a sop to their former independence, Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey were ruled (?825-858?) as a single territorial u[FONT=&quot]nit [/FONT]by underkings who just happened to be the eldest son of the King of Wessex. They were then incorporated fully and ruled by an ealdorman like any Wessex shire. The Viking invasion and Reconquista brought changes to the usual pattern of overlordship. Essex did become part of what became known later as the Danelaw but was reabsorbed earlier than, say, Yorkshire.

It is interesting that in the 850’s the atheling Edgar was acclaimed and ruled as King of Mercia and Northumbria for a couple of years because they didn’t like the rule of his older brother King Eadwig of England. Upon Eadwigs death in 959 Edgar ruled a 'unified' English kingdom. [/FONT]