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Penda was the son of Pybba and, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, became king in 626. His age at this time is a matter of some dispute: according to the Chronicle, he was 50 years old, but the evidence with regard to the ages of his children and relatives makes this seem implausible. The noted 20th century historian Frank Stenton was of the opinion that Penda did not become king at this early date, however: according to Stenton, the language used by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People "leaves no doubt that ... Penda, though descended from the royal family of the Mercians, only became their king after EdwinEdwin (alternately Eadwine or duini c. 584 October 12, 632/ 633) was the King of Northumbria from about 616 until his death. He converted to Christianity and was baptised in 627; after he fell at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, he was regarded as a saint an's defeat in 632." The Chronicle records a battle between Penda and the West SaxonsWessex was one of the seven major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (the Heptarchy) that preceded the kingdom of England. It was named after the West Saxons and situated in the south and southwest of England. It existed from the 6th century until the emergence of the under their kings CynegilsCynegils of Wessex (-643) was King of Wessex ( 611- 643). He was son of King Ceol of Wessex. He succeeded his uncle King Ceolwulf upon his death. In 614, Cynegils and his son Cwichelm, defeated the Welsh at Brampton. In 628, the two fought King Penda of M and Cwichelm taking place at CirencesterCirencester a market town in Gloucestershire, England, is located 93 miles (150 km) west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the Thames, and is the largest town in Cotswold District. It is home of the Royal Agricultura in 628Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards 628., and it says that afterwards, the two "came to an agreement."
Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth was a clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history. Born in about 1100 in Wales, he probably had some Breton blood. After graduating from Oxford University, he became archdeacon of Llandaff and/or Monmo, in his semi-legendary History of the Kings of BritainGeoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanni English The History of the Kings of Britain was written around 1136. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years. It begins with the, says that Penda was conducting a siegeA siege is a prolonged military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. A siege occurs when an attacker encounters a city or fortress that refuses to surrender and cannot be easily taken by a frontal of Exeter when he was defeated by the exiled king of Gwynedd, Cadwallon ap Cadfan, and forced into an alliance with Cadwallon. Whatever the case, Penda and Cadwallon were certainly allied and fought against the Northumbrians, and on October 12, 632 (or 633), they defeated the Northumbrians at Hatfield Chase and killed their king, Edwin, along with his son Osfrith. Another of Edwin's sons, Eadfrith, fell into Penda's hands (Bede reports that Eadfrith went over to Penda, "compelled by necessity") and Penda later had him killed ("contrary to his oath", as Bede says).The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that, following the victory at Hatfield Chase, "Cadwallon and Penda went and did for the whole land of Northumbria." Cadwallon was, however, killed at the Battle of Heavenfield by Oswald of Bernicia, who then became king of Northumbria. On August 5, 641 (or 642), Penda defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Maserfield and killed Oswald. The pagan Penda had the Christian Oswald's body mutilated, and Oswald was thereafter revered as a martyr; the site of the battle became known as Oswestry, or "Oswald's Tree", because Penda had hung his remains from a tree. Penda's brother Eowa , from whom the later Mercian kings Ethelbald and Offa were descended, was also killed in this battle.
Penda devoted most of his reign to aggression against the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. It was probably at some point between 635 and 640 that he fought with the East Anglians and defeated them, killing their kings Sigebert and Egric . In 645, Penda attacked Wessex again and its king, Cenwealh (who had divorced Penda's sister), fled into exile; however, Cenwealh was able to return to power in 648. Around the year 650, Penda attacked East Anglia and drove out its king, Anna; when Anna attempted to reclaim his kingdom in 653 or 654, Penda invaded again and killed him in battle.
During the reign of Penda, the districts corresponding to Cheshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire were probably acquired by Mercia; here Penda installed a king called Merewalh over the Magonsaete . In later centuries it was said that Merewalh was a son of Penda, but there is little basis for that claim.
Penda also established his son Peada as a dependent prince in Middle Anglia . Although a pagan, he allowed his daughter Cyneburg to marry Ecgfrith, the son of King Oswiu of Northumbria, and it was during Peada's reign that Christianity was introduced into Middle Anglia.
Penda's reign was primarily characterized by the long conflict with Northumbria, the only other Anglo-Saxon kingdom of this period that could rival Mercia in power. Despite his major successes in battle against the Northumbrians in 633 and 642, war dragged on endlessly, since Penda was never able to achieve a final victory over them and yet was unwilling to compromise. He continually raided Northumbria and once almost succeeded in reducing the royal stronghold of Bamburgh; when he was unable to capture it, Bede reports that he attempted to set the city ablaze, but that it was saved by a sacred wind that blew the fire back in the faces of the Mercians.
Finally, in 654 (or 655), Penda invaded Northumbria with a huge army, reported to have been thirty legions strong, which included several of his client kings and allies, such as Cadfael ap Cynfeddw of Gwynedd and Aethelhere of East Anglia. He even enjoyed the support of Aethelwald, the king of Deira, a sub-kingdom of southern Northumbria, who Bede says acted as Penda's guide during his invasion. Recognizing the odds against him, Oswiu tried to buy peace. In the Historia Britonum, it is said that Oswiu offered treasure, which Penda distributed among his allies; Bede states that the offer was simply rejected. (Additionally, according to Bede, Oswiu's son Ecgfrith was being held hostage "at the court of Queen Cynwise, in the province of the Mercians.") In any case, a great battle was fought near the river Winwaed on November 15. Although the numerical odds were on his side, Penda was deserted by Cadfael and Aethelwald. He suffered a crushing defeat and was killed.
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