Leofric of Winchester (died May 878) was a West Saxon army captain during the 9th century. He served under Prince Alfred, rising from being a farmer to being a tough military man. He initially got along poorly with Uhtred of Bebbanburg, nearly duelling him upon Uhtred's first entry into Winchester in 871, but they later formed a friendship. Leofric was killed at the Battle of Edington in 878.
Biography[]
Leofric was born in Winchester, Wessex, and he became a soldier in the service of Prince Alfred (the future Alfred the Great). In 871, he first met Uhtred of Bebbanburg, nearly getting into a fight with him due to Uhtred's Danish upbringing and his insults against Leofric; however, he later took a liking to him as Uhtred gained Alfred's trust. He became Uhtred's best friend and brother-in-arms, helping him train men in Danish tactics, accompanying him to his new home in Liscumb (where he also befriended Uhtred's wife Mildrith of Liscumb), fighting alongside Uhtred at the Battle of Cynwit, co-leading Uhtred's raid into Cornwall in 878, and even nearly fighting to death with him on Alfred's orders after being tried for their leadership of the raid. Leofric fought alongside Uhtred one last time at the Battle of Edington, where he killed the treacherous Ealdorman Wulfhere before suffering an axe wound to the neck and dying of his wounds, with his last words being "No mercy!"
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