Anglo-Saxon king of the Mercians from 796 who preserved the Mercian supremacy established by King Offa (reigned 757–796). During a Kentish rebellion against Mercian suzerainty, he tried to move the chief English see from Canterbury to London. He abandoned this plan after quelling the revolt (c. 798) and installing his brother as client king of Kent. Cenwulf fought an indecisive war with Eardwulf of Northumbria in 801–802 and died (probably of natural causes) during an invasion of Wales.