Ealhmund[250], the last prince, father of the celebrated Ecgberht of Wessex. ----- Footnote 240: At a later period we find a duchy of the Merscware, or inhabitants of Romney marsh, and this is certainly in favour of a third Kentish kingdom. William of Malmesbury speaks of the reguli whom Æðelberht had subdued, and it is probable that these were petty princes of Kent. Gest. Reg. lib. 1. § 10. Footnote 241: Cod. Dipl. Nos. 72, 77, 86, 108. Footnote 242: Ibid. Nos. 8, 10, 30. Footnote 243: Ibid. Nos. 14, 15. Beda, Hist. Eccl. v. 8. Footnote 244: Cod. Dipl. Nos. 85, 106, 107. Footnote 245: Ibid. No. 96. Footnote 246: Ibid. Nos. 110, 114. Footnote 247: Ibid. Nos. 113, 132, 135, 160. Footnote 248: Ibid. No. 85. Footnote 249: Flor. Wig. an. 794. Footnote 250: Flor. Wig. App. _Wessex_. ----- Among the territories which at one time or other were incorporated with the kingdom of Mercia, one is celebrated under the name of Hwiccas: it comprised the then diocese of Worcester. This small province not only retained its king till a late period[251], but had frequently several kings at once; thus Ósric[252] and Óshere[253]; Æðelweard[254], Æðelheard[255], Æðelríc[256] and in all probability Óswudu, between an. 704-709. A few years later, viz. between an. 757 and 785, we find three brothers Eánberht[257], Ealdred[258] and Uhtred[259] claiming the royal title in the same district, while Offa their relative swayed the paramount sceptre of Mercia. That other parts of that great kingdom had always formed separate states is certain: even in the time of Penda (who reigned from 626 to 656) we know that the Middle Angles were ruled by Peada, his son[260], while Merewald, another son, was king of the West Hecan or people of Herefordshire[261]. In the important battle of Winwidfeld, where the fall of Penda perhaps secured the triumph of Christianity, we learn that thirty royal commanders fell on the Mercian side[262]. Under Æðilræd, Penda’s son and successor, we find Beorhtwald calling himself a king in Mercia[263]. During the reign of Centwine in Wessex, we hear of a king, Baldred, whose kingdom probably comprised Sussex and part of Hampshire[264]; at the same period also we find Æðilheard calling himself king of Wessex[265], and perhaps also a brother Æðilweard[266] unless this be an error of transcription. Friðuwald in a charter to the Monastery of Chertsey, mentions the following _subreguli_ as concurring in the grant: Ósríc, Wighard and Æðelwald[267]. ----- Footnote 251: We lose sight of the Hwiccian kings about the time of Offa’s death, or an. 796. In 802 we hear indeed of an ealdorman of the Hwiccas, but the Latin authorities translate this by _dux_. Footnote 252: Cod. Dipl. No. 12. Footnote 253: Ibid. Nos. 17, 36. Footnote 254: Ibid. No. 56. Footnote 255: Ibid. No. 53. Footnote 256: Ibid. No. 57. Footnote 257: Ibid. Nos. 102, 105. Footnote 258: Ibid. Nos. 125, 131, 146.