In 655, King Penda of Mercia, a pagan, threatened to lay waste to Bernicia, northern province of Christian Northumbria. The Northumbrian King, Oswy, tried to buy him off but confident of help from Athelhere of East Anglia and from Oswy’s nephew Ethelwald, ruler of Northumbria’s southern province Deira, Penda marched north regardless.

Penda met Oswy in battle near the River Winwaed, a place now not known. The odds favoured Penda thirty to one, but apparently in answer to Oswy’s prayers two key allies deserted Penda and the river flooded, sweeping the rest away. Penda was killed at Leeds on November 15th, 655, and Oswy sent bishops to spread Christianity throughout Mercia.

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