Later Wessex

Map showing the later extent of Wessex. In 825, Ecgberht, king of the West Saxons, gained an historic victory over the Mercians, which had been the main obstacle to an expansion of Wessex. Kent, and Sussex, both provinces of Mercia, surrendered to Ecgberht's eldest son, Aethelwulf. By 860, these two ancient territories had been subsumed into Wessex. This is illustrated by the map shown here of Britain during the Viking invasions.