Icel of Mercia

Icel (c. 460 – c. 535), also spelt Icil, is a possible king of Mercia. He was supposedly the son of Eomer (443–489), last King of the Angles in Angeln. Icel supposedly led his people across the North Sea to Britain around 515 during the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain.[1] Icel was the eponymous ancestor of his grandfather's family, the Iclingas.

Icel
King of Mercia
Reignc. 515 – c. 535
PredecessorTitle established
SuccessorCnebba
Bornbefore 489 (possibly 460)
Denmark or Germany
Diedc. 535
Mercia
IssueCnebba
HouseAngles, Icelingas
FatherEomer

History
Spread of Angles (red), which was Icel's tribe, and Saxons (blue) around 500 AD, which was well within Icel's lifetime

Icel was born before 489, probably around 460. He became king of Anglia upon his father's death in 489. He was the last king of Anglia, migrating to England around 515. During the same year, he became king of Mercia.[2]

By 527, Icel had worked his way through East Anglia and into Mercia, as it has been reported in the 13th century manuscript known as the Flores Historiarum: “Pagans came from Germany and occupied East Anglia, that is, the country of the East Angles; and some of them invaded Mercia, and waged war against the British.” By his death c. 535, it is reported that Icel held large portions of both East Anglia and Mercia, and therefore could be considered the first true king of Mercia.[2] Icel was succeeded by Cnebba shortly after his death.

References
  1. Michael James Swanton (1998). An Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Psychology Press. pp. 24 & 338. ISBN 978-0-415-92129-9. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. "Kings and Queens of Mercia (515–819)". Historic UK. Retrieved 19 July 2020.


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