Peada

…southern Mercia to Penda’s son Peada. Peada was murdered in 656, and a revolt by Mercian nobles in 657 brought an end to Oswiu’s rule in southern England. Oswiu was a staunch Christian who had been raised in the Celtic tradition, but his wife, Eanfled, had been educated in the…

…Runic legends, including the name Peada, supposedly a reference to the king (flourished 656) of Mercia; most, however, were nonregal, and their legends are Latinized. Types were varied, and some almost certainly originated in Frisia, where sceats are found in large quantities, denoting the trading connection that called for their…

…the rule of Penda’s son, Peada. St. Guthlac, who was born there, belonged to the Mercian royal family. Peada introduced Christianity, but no permanent see was created until 737, when one was established at Leicester. St. Wilfrid administered the province in his exile of 691–705.

His son Peada had been made subking of Middle Anglia by 653. East Anglia was subjugated, and King Cenwalh was driven from Wessex for three years (645–648). In 655 Penda invaded Northumbria with forces drawn from many kingdoms, but he was slain by the Northumbrian king Oswin…