Ethelbald spent his earlier years exiled from Mercia, according to the Life of Guthlac of Crowland, who often provided him and his followers shelter. On Ceolred's death, he returned to become king in 716. He made an expedition against Wessex in 733, in which year he took the royal manor of Somerton. In 740, he took advantage of the absence of Eadberth in a campaign against the Picts to invade Northumbria. In 743, he fought with Cuthred, king of Wessex, against the Welsh. Boniface, bishop of Mainz, wrote him a letter, in either 746 or 747, that reproached him for his behavior towards church property, towards nuns, and concerning the example he set for his subjects. By a charter of 749, he freed ecclesiastical lands from all obligations except the trinoda necessitas.

In 757, Ethelbald was slain by his body-guard at Seckington, Warwickshire, near the royal seat of Tamworth. His death was possibly due to a feud. He was buried at Repton.

Reference

• ''This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.