Cuthred or Cuþræd was the King of

Wessex la, Regnum Occidentalium Saxonum , conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons , common_name = Wessex , image_map = Southern British Isles 9th century.svg , map_caption = S ...

from 740 (739 according to

Simeon of Durham __NOTOC__ Symeon (or Simeon) of Durham (died after 1129) was an English chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory. Biography Symeon entered the Benedictine monastery at Jarrow as a youth. It moved to Durham in 1074, and he was professed in 1085 or ...

, 741 according to

John of Worcester John of Worcester (died c. 1140) was an English monk and chronicler who worked at Worcester Priory. He is usually held to be the author of the ''Chronicon ex chronicis''. ''Chronicon ex chronicis'' The ''Chronicon ex chronicis'' is a world wi ...

) until 756. He succeeded Æthelheard, his relative and possibly his brother. Cuthred inherited the kingdom while

Mercia la, Merciorum regnum , conventional_long_name=Kingdom of Mercia , common_name=Mercia , status=Kingdom , status_text=Independent kingdom (527–879)Client state of Wessex () , life_span=527–918 , era=Heptarchy , event_start= , date_start= , y ...

was at its peak. The two kingdoms often fought in Cuthred's first three years, but it appears that Æthelbald of Mercia was Wessex's overlord and that Æthelbald compelled Cuthred to join him in fighting the

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

in 743. This alliance would not last long.Sharon Turner, ''The history of the Anglo-Saxons from the earliest period to the Norman conquest'', Volume 1 (Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1841), p. 267 Cuthred's reign was a troubled time. In 748, the

Ætheling Ætheling (; also spelt aetheling, atheling or etheling) was an Old English term (''æþeling'') used in Anglo-Saxon England to designate princes of the royal dynasty who were eligible for the kingship. The term is an Old English and Old Saxon ...

Cynric, son of Cuthred, attempted to depose his father but he was killed.''The Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon'', ed. & trans. Thomas Forester (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853), p. 129 According to the ''

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' is a collection of annals in Old English, chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the ''Chronicle'' was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of A ...

'', Æthelbald may have encouraged Cynric to rebel.Sharon Turner, ''The history of the Anglo-Saxons from the earliest period to the Norman conquest'', Volume 1 (Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1841), p. 267, note i In 750, the

ealdorman Ealdorman (, ) was a term in Anglo-Saxon England which originally applied to a man of high status, including some of royal birth, whose authority was independent of the king. It evolved in meaning and in the eighth century was sometimes applied ...

Æthelhun led an unsuccessful rebellion he was winning until he was severely injured.Mike Ashley, ''The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens'' (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 311 In 752, Cuthred, assisted by the now faithful Æthelhun, led a successful rebellion against Æthelbald at

Battle Edge Battle-Edge is a former Field (agriculture), field, located beside Sheep Street and Tanners Lane, in Burford in Oxfordshire, England where Æthelbald of Mercia, King Æthelbald of Mercia was defeated by Cuthred of Wessex, King Cuthred of the West ...

Burford Burford () is a town on the River Windrush, in the Cotswold hills, in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England. It is often referred to as the 'gateway' to the Cotswolds. Burford is located west of Oxford and southeast of Che ...

and secured independence from Mercia for the rest of his reign.Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 204 He is also said to have fought the Cornish in 753. Cuthred died in 756, but he left a stronger and more independent Wessex. He was succeeded by Sigeberht who is identified as his distant relative.

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* Anglo-Saxon warriors West Saxon monarchs 756 deaths 8th-century English monarchs Year of birth unknown House of Wessex {{England-noble-stub

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