Ecgberht (77–839), also spelled Egbert, Ecgbert, or Ecgbriht, was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. Little is known of the first 20 years of Ecgberht's reign, but it is thought that he was able to maintain the independence of Wessex against the kingdom of Mercia, which at that time dominated the other southern English kingdoms. In 825 Ecgberht defeated Beornwulf of Mercia, temporarily ruling Mercia directly. He was however, unable to maintain this dominant position, and within a year he lost the throne of Mercia, but retained control of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.

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Location: England, UK
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