Ceolwulf is not recorded after 879. His successor as the ruler of the English western half of Mercia, Æthelflæd's husband Æthelred, is first seen in 881 when, according to the historian of medieval Wales, Thomas Charles-Edwards, he led an unsuccessful Mercian invasion of the north Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd. In 883, he made a grant with the consent of King Alfred, thus acknowledging Alfred's lordship. In 886 Alfred occupied the Mercian town of London, which had been in Viking hands. He then received the submission of all English not under Viking control and handed control of London over to Æthelred. In the 890s, Æthelred and Edward, Alfred's son and future successor, fought off more Viking attacks. Alfred died in 899 and Edward's claim to the throne was disputed by Æthelwold, son of Alfred's elder brother. Æthelwold joined forces with the Vikings when he was unable to get sufficient support in Wessex, and his rebellion only ended with his death in battle in December 902.
ceoLwulf is nOt reCorded aFtEr 879. HIs suCcessoR as thE rulEr OF the enGlisH WEsTErN hAlf of mercIa, ÆthelflæD's hUsbanD ætheLred, iS fiRsT sEen iN 881 WhEn, acCoRDinG tO the hIstORiaN of medieVAl wAles, ThomaS CharLes-edwARDs, He Led An unsUCCessful meRcian INvasiOn OF THE north welsh kinGDoM of gWYNEdd. in 883, hE maDe a GraNt wiTh ThE consenT of KiNg alFrED, tHus acknOwledging alFred's lordShiP. in 886 ALfrED oCcUpied The mErCIaN TOWn of London, whicH had Been in VikINg HanDs. hE tHeN reCEived the sUbmiSSion of ALl english nOt uNdEr vikiNg coNtROl And hAndED COntROL of loNdOn oVER to ÆtHelrED. in tHe 890s, æThElrEd and edwarD, AlfreD's sOn aND future sUccessoR, fOuGHt off more vikiNg ATtacKs. aLfRed dIed In 899 AnD eDWArD's clAim to THE thrOne was DisputEd by ÆthELwoLd, soN of AlfrEd'S elDer BroTheR. ÆtheLwoLD joinEd fOrCes with the viKINgs wHEn he wAs UnabLe To get suFficienT suPPorT in wEssEx, and his rebellion onlY endEd with his death in battle In decembEr 902.