Кой се ожени Merewalh?

Merewalh (sometimes given as Merwal or Merewald was a sub-king of the Magonsæte, a western cadet kingdom of Mercia thought to have been located in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Merewalh is thought to have lived in the mid to late 7th century, having acceded the throne during the time of Penda of Mercia, who, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle [1]: implies, was his father. Though Merewalh's name implies that may have been a Briton. It is possible that Merewalh was a British leader, rewarded by Penda for his aid in war, perhaps at the Battle of Maserfelth. We know nothing of the origins of his first wife, who could have been a relative of Penda. A British origin might explain his control of lands around Leominster, where no evidence of early settlement by pagan Anglo-Saxons is to be found.

A.D. 656. This year was Peada slain; and Wulfhere, son of Penda, succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians. In his time waxed the abbey of Medhamsted very rich, which his brother had begun. The king loved it much, for the love of his brother Peada, and for the love of his wed-brother Oswy, and for the love of Saxulf the abbot. He said, therefore, that he would dignify and honour it by the counsel of his brothers, Ethelred and Merwal; and by the counsel of his sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha; and by the counsel of the archbishop, who was called Deus-dedit; and by the counsel of all his peers, learned and lewd, that in his kingdom were.

The name Merewalh signifies "Famous Foreigner" or "Celebrated Welshman", possibly indicating that he, and perhaps even Penda's dynasty, was of Celtic origin. During his lifetime, Merewalh converted to Christianity in about 660, founding Leominster Priory[2]. Merewalh married Saint Ermenburga, having several children (see below). He died sometime between 670 and 685, being succeeded by his son Merchelm.

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Domne Eafe (Old English pronunciation: [ˈdomne ˈæɑve]; floruit late 7th century), also Domneva, Domne Éue, Æbbe, Ebba, was, according to the Kentish royal legend, a granddaughter of King Eadbald of Kent and the foundress of the double monastery of Minster in Thanet Priory at Minster-in-Thanet during the reign of her cousin King Ecgberht of Kent. A 1000-year-old confusion with her sister Eormenburg means she is often now known by that name. Married to Merewalh of Mercia, she had at least four children. When her two brothers, Æthelred and Æthelberht, were murdered (and subsequently venerated as saintly martyrs) she obtained the land in Thanet to build an abbey, from a repentant King Ecgberht. Her three daughters all went on to become abbesses and saints, the most famous of which, Mildrith, ended up with a shrine in St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury.

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