John Broughton

Mixed Blessings: Aethelbald - Bretwalda of Mercia - Saints and Sinners John Broughton

Mierce, the English Midlands, 8th Century A. D.

Æthelbald, King of Mierce, is a man of ambition. Having created much-needed stability within his domain, he now aspires to take the surrounding kingdoms to expand and fortify his own. Stealthy and cunning, Æthelbald manipulates other men of power to achieve his goals.

The quest for power is not King Æthelbald's only passion in life. Despite not wishing to marry, he has an unabating lust for women and takes advantage of his position to 'raid' nunneries to satisfy his desires. But Æthelbald also wishes to be seen as a fair and merciful king, and many poor, common folk benefit from his generous deeds and favourable resolutions.

As Æthelbald's reign grows and strengthens, so too does the authority of the church, whose leverage over monarchical matters becomes increasingly overbearing. The church does not approve of King Æthelbald's exploits with innocent women and seeks to bring him into line with the threat of eternal damnation.

The sequel to Saints and Sinners, Mixed Blessings chronicles the life of an English king in the days where the boundaries of kingdoms and social propriety were undergoing rapid change.