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Mercia. Press Control+B to Bookmark this site for later reference. The Comprehensive
Website
for the Ancient English Kingdom of Mercia |
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(Nicholas Brooks : 'Formation of the Mercian kingdom', in 'The Origins
of
the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, 1989).
VICTORIA SQUARE, BIRMINGHAM, 29 MAY 2003
Mercia developed in the valleys of the upper Trent and its tributaries in the sixth century and gradually expanded to its natural boundaries to form the middle lands of England. In 1066, Mercia was one of six earldoms which comprised the non-expansionist confederation of England and operated as an organic democracy. Most Mercians lived as freemen in stable subsistence farming communities, which were bonded by common customs and traditions, kinship and co-operative effort on the land. They also held a great respect for the environment and Mercia was an extremely wealthy region, both in terms of its soil fertility and agricultural production and of its creation of magnificent jewellery, tapestries, manuscripts and literature. However, historic Mercia was annihilated by the Norman invaders after the Conquest in 1066 and its territory, along with that of the other English regions, was forcibly added to the Norman Empire. The Conquest also destroyed the region’s ancient organic democracy and imposed an hereditary absolute monarchy in its stead, under which the people were reduced in status from freemen to ‘subjects of the crown’. New hierarchical political and social systems ensured the suppression of the indigenous people and the imposition of the Norman feudal system marked the origins of the iniquitous modern class system. English community law was replaced by a centralised system of courts, where arbitrary punishments were decreed, and, following the Conquest, vast numbers of English people were murdered by their alien masters. The conquerors regarded England as a source of plunder and therefore decisively altered the human relationship with the land thenceforth into one of exploitation. Today, little has changed, despite the persistent efforts of the radical political movement extant in England for almost a millennium which has campaigned to free its historic and natural regions from the illegal and suffocating control of the authoritarian forces of the United Kingdom. Therefore, Mercia remains locked inside a crumbling empire, which shows little inclination to release the English regions from its weakening grip. The anachronistic hereditary monarchy continues to thrive and symbolise the impotence of the millions of Mercian ‘subjects of the crown’, who are obliged to fund it , whilst only small concessions to real democracy have yet resulted from the determined efforts of countless English radicals over the centuries. The class system remains essentially intact so that the rich live in luxury whilst homeless people beg on the streets and the environment is currently being abused at an even faster rate than it was during the last millennium. Consequently, destructive individualism, centralisation and generalised economic growth are leading the region and its people further down a blind alley into disaster. This can only be averted by the formation of the new holistic society outlined in The Constitution Of Mercia, based on organic democracy, co-operative community and ecological balance, the selfsame principles that formed the bedrock of the sustainable society of historic Mercia. Although almost a millennium has passed since Mercia existed as an autonomous entity, recognition of the historic region has remained remarkably strong. Mercia gradually became better known as the Midlands, but remains a rich farming area and therefore still constitutes a highly sustainable region. Mercia also forms a viable region culturally and Midlanders generally see themselves as belonging neither to the north of England nor the south. We hereby declare that this Constitution is now the ultimate legal authority in Mercia, but that it remains subject to amendment by the people of the region. Furthermore, we reaffirm and declare the legal independence of Mercia, which will comprise its historic twenty shires (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire) or such of these that find a common Mercian identity and wish to be included in the region. Finally, we hereby proclaim that the Constitutional Convention has now become the Acting Witan of Mercia, to spearhead the full democratisation of the region and the re-establishment of its de facto independence under The Constitution Of Mercia. Long live free Mercia! Contact DetailsJeff Kent, Convener of the Acting Witan of Mercia, Cherry Tree House, 8 Nelson Crescent, Cotes Heath, via Stafford, ST21 6ST, Mercia. Tel. 01782 791673 email: witan@mail.com Website : www.independentmercia.org For general enquiries: info@acting-witan-of-mercia.org |
Despite its
natural unity, Mercia was unlawfully
dismantled
by foreign conquerors and The Constitution Of Mercia
consequently
reaffirms its legal independence. Furthermore, the production of the
Constitution and this declaration of independence are part of a
programme of positive action aimed at the de facto re-creation of
Mercia as an autonomous and sustainable bioregion within an English
confederation. It was hoped that this might be achieved
through a process of negotiation with the relevant representatives of
the UK, especially following the election in 1997 of a government
committed by its manifesto to ‘the democratic renewal of our country
through decentralisation’ and to ‘decentralise power throughout the
United Kingdom’. This was put to the test in January
2000 when the Mercia Movement sent letters to the key agents of
political control in the UK, requesting joint meetings to discuss fully
the future of the region. However,
none was willing to enter into any such discussions and their refusal
thereby
revealed the hypocrisy of the government’s professed commitment to
democratic
regionalism. Therefore, a draft Constitution was produced without their
assistance
in January 2001 and circulated as widely as possible across the region.
This
led to the formation of the Mercian Constitutional Convention on 17
March
2001, which amended the draft to enable the production of The
Constitution
Of Mercia.
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 The Daily
Mail has terrific coverage of a spectacular new find. The largest haul of
Anglo-Saxon gold ever found has been discovered by
a metal detector enthusiast on farmland in Staffordshire, it was
revealed today.
Experts say the hoard, which is at least as significant as any other treasure from the Anglo-Saxon era ever unearthed, is worth millions and could have belonged to a king. The discovery of at least 1,345 different items, thought to date back to the seventh century, is expected to redefine perceptions of the period. Terry Herbert, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, came across the collection as he searched a field near his home with his trusty 14-year-old detector and is now in line for a seven-figure sum. It had been hidden for more than 1,300 years but was recently thrown up by ploughing and amazingly, some was just sitting on the top of the ground. Experts have already examined the 1,345 items but another 56 clods of earth have been X-rayed and are known to hold more metal artefacts, meaning the figure is likely to rise to around 1,500. At least 650 are gold, weighing more than than 5kg, and another 530 are silver, weighing around 1kg. This is far bigger than previous finds – including the Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk. Many of the items in the hoard are warfare paraphernalia inlaid with precious stones, including sword pommel caps and hilt plates.Experts say it is the best example of Anglo-Saxon workmanship they have ever seen and may have belonged to Saxon royalty, possibly the King of Mercia.’ Archaeology expert Leslie Webster, who used to work at the British Museum, said: ‘(It is) absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells.’ It was officially declared treasure by a coroner today, which means the haul will now be valued by committee of experts before being offered for sale. They may take more than a year to value the collection and, given its scale, the financial worth will be massive. Once a valuation and sale is complete, its market value will be split between Mr Herbert, who is unemployed, and the owner of the farmland where it was found. Roger Bland, head of portable antiquities and treasure at the British Museum: ‘I can’t say anything other than we expect it to be a seven-figure sum.’ |
What these gems reveal about the brutal men who made England Penda
of Mercia was one the central figures of English history from 632 until
his death in 654. He first appeared before he was king, as an ally of
Cadwallon in his campaign against Edwin of Northumbria that ended in
victory at Hatfield Chase, after which Penda became king of Mercia. In
641, he defeated and killed Oswald of Northumbria at Maserfelth,
establishing himself as the most powerful of the southern English
kings, although he never became Bretwalda (Overking). His
final campaign, in 654, was against Oswiu, brother of Oswald, whom he
considered to be a personal enemy. Penda invaded Northumbria with a
large army that included many British allies, but despite apparently
coming close to defeat, Oswiu defeated and killed Penda at the battle
of Winwaed, near Leeds, temporarily eclipsing Mercian power. It was a custom of the day, a form of ritual humiliation of the foe, described in the great Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf: ‘Weapons of war and weeds (clothes) of battle, with breastplate and blade – a heaped hoard’. Could it be that this was the scene that took place 1,400 years ago – and that such a hoard has now been discovered in Staffordshire? It seems more than possible. King Penda would
have been worthy of such treasure. He killed five kings in battles in
the mid seventh century, becoming the most powerful Anglo-Saxon ruler
of the age. Penda remained a
Pagan throughout his life but, by his wife, Cunewise, he fathered a
large family who all became Christian: Peada, King of Middle Anglia;
Wulfhere and Aethelred, eventually Kings of Mercia; Merewalh, King of
Magonset; St. Cuneburga, wife of King Alcfrith of Deira and Abbess of
Castor; St. Cuneswith; St. Cunethrith of Castor; St. Edith of
Aylesbury; St. Edburga of Bicester; and Wilburga, wife of King
Frithuwold of Surrey.
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The early Anglo-Saxons founded England as we know it. They spoke Old English – and they would have been just about intelligible to us. They developed royal families, systems of justice and a currency, which has come down to us with only slight modifications. They lived in settlements of wooden houses, with fireplaces in the middle and few windows. The names of their villages still exist – Reading, Henley, Fulham, Hastings and Middleton are all Anglo-Saxon words. By the time the Staffordshire hoard was assembled, about half of England was officially Christian and monasteries were beginning to appear. Their homes would have been smoky, dark and primitive. All activities requiring good light had to take place outside, making the magnificent craftsmanship seen in this treasure even more amazing. Their food would have been familiar to us, but much more restricted in variety. They would have eaten porridge and bread, butter and cheese, but not so much meat, and not very many vegetables. They did however have leeks, garlic and onions, and relied heavily on herbs to flavour their food. Meat came from farmed animals and from hunting. Apples and other native fruit would have provided vitamins. They loved to party, drinking mead – a brew fermented from honey – beer and ale. They sang and danced, and were wonderful storytellers – we know this from the little poetry they left behind. But there are still many ‘known unknowns’ about the Anglo Saxons. The big mystery is where did they come from? Did they arrive from Germany in family units? Or as immigrant men who had children with native British women? Or did just a few come from the continent and show the native British a way of life to adopt. Our Anglo Saxon forebears remain something of an enigma but with these magnificent treasures, we come a step closer to knowing our early English ancestors.
 Prize pieces from a huge horde of
Anglo-Saxon gold are on display at the Birmingham Museum
and Art Gallery.
The exhibit is on until October 13, but if you can't make it check out these amazing pictures on the horde's official website. Many of the pieces are still undergoing conservation and study, but once that's all done, you can expect a worldwide tour in a year or so. Watch this space. |
If you are looking for a bit of Free Fishing in the UK Click on Picture to left |
