What is Aethelred I of Mercia?
[[File:Aethelred family tree.svg|thumb|right|300px|{{Center|Aethelred family tree.}}]] '''Aethelred''', also '''Æthelred''' or '''Ethelred''', (died 716) was an early [[List of monarchs of Mercia|King of Mercia]]. He succeeded his brother [[Wulfhere of Mercia|Wulfhere]] when he died in 675. Like his brother, Wulfhere, he was considered an overlord over other English kings. But he never reached the same political status as Wulfhere. His importance was in his contributions to the church. Aethelred ruled Mercia until his [[abdication]] in 704. He stepped down to retire to the monastery at [[Bardney Abbey|Bardney]]. == King of Mercia == Aethelred was a son of King [[Penda of Mercia|Penda]].<ref name=Stenton203>Frank Stenton, ''Anglo-Saxon England'' (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 203</ref> At about the same time he succeeded his brother to the throne he married Osthryth, daughter of [[Oswiu of Northumbria]].<ref name=Ashley254>Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New York: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 254</ref> Aethelred attacked [[Kent]] in 676 to get [[Hlothhere of Kent]] back in line as a [[vassal]] of [[Mercia]]. He destroyed much of that kingdom as well as sacked [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]].<ref name=Ashley255>Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New York: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 255</ref> In 679 Aethelred continued the struggle his father and brother had with [[Northumbria]]. He found [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria]] waiting for him on the [[River Trent]] which divided north and south Mercia.<ref name=Marsden168>John Marsden, ''Northanhymbre Saga; The History of the Anglo-Saxon Kings of Northumbria'' (London: Kyle Cathie Limited, 1992), p. 168</ref> In the battle, Aelfwine, the younger brother of King Ecgfrith{{efn|Aelfwine was also the brother of Queen Osthryth and so was Aethelred's [[:en:wikt:brother-in-law|brother-in-law]].<ref name=Ashley254/> According to [[Bede]] Aelfwine was much loved in both kingdoms.<ref>Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English