The Relationship Between Mercia and the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms

Mercia sat in the middle, squished en many anglo saxon kingdoms. Immediately to the east were the middle angles. To the north, the powerful northumbrians. To the south, the juise, or the west saxons. And to the west were the foreigners, the welsh and pawis. This was a world in which big kingdoms gobbled up little ones. The daughters of victorious kings found themselves sleeping in the beds of old antagonists. It was hard in the seventh century to put aside ancient and current rivalries and slights.