Egbert appears to have been independent of Mercia from the beginning of his reign, and Wessex's independence meant that Coenwulf was never able to claim the overlordship of the southern English that had belonged to Offa and Æthelbald.
Egbert semella ter sido independente de Mercia desde o inicio do seu reinado, e a independencia de Wessex significou que Coenwulf nunca foi capaz de afirmar o seu dominio sobre o sur inglés que pertencera a Offa e Æthelbald.