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Source: Copy of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Saxons & Jutes of Southern England - West Seaxe (West Saxons / Wessex) - The History Files

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Titre	Copy of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Saxons & Jutes of Southern England - West Seaxe (West Saxons / Wessex) - The History Files

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CYNRIC of Wessex

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The West Saxons formed one of the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England - in fact it was their kingdom that formed the basis of a single, united English kingdom in the mid-tenth century. However, their beginnings are shrouded in mystery, seeminglyformed out of two separate stories that were combined by later generations to make them look better. In very simple terms, the Gewissae (a Saxon tribe descended from Gewis of Baeldaeg's Folk), are claimed as having landed on the south coast where they began to carve out an area of settlement for themselves. This was traditionally in AD 495, and this band of Saxons was led by Cerdic, whose mother (and name) were British. This straightforward version of events appears to be the result of a traditional form of story telling that covers a more interesting and intricate story. It's rare to have a story of conquest that begins so long before the main participants in the story - the West Saxons - are brought into the story, the gap being between AD 495-519 during which time Cerdic appears to be establishing his own power base. It has been suggested that Cerdic headed a British power bloc which, with Germanic mercenaries or helpthat was related to him through intermarriage to Jutes or Saxons, staged a takeover and was able to set up a viable Brito-Saxon kingdom. Scholar K Sisam points out (in Anglo-Saxon Royal Genealogies, 1953) that Cerdic's pedigree has no independent authority. It has been put together from that of the Bernician kings and his real ancestry is unknown. He evidently could not claim descent from any Germanic family of importance. This seems to strengthen the possibility of him having position and/or power within Romano-British society. Even the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (ASC) describes him and his 'son', Cynric, as ealdormen, a term normally used in ninth century England for someone who was a prominent official having authority, both civil and military, over a specific territory forming part of a kingdom. FeatureIt is interesting to note that the date of Cerdic's proposed takeover is very close to the approximate date of the heavy Saxon defeat at Mons Badonicus, circa 496. Could Cerdic have spotted the power vacuum that occurred with the loss of the Bretwalda's power and been in a position to take advantage of it? Given that, and the ASC's description of his rank, it is tempting to think that Cerdic was the head of a partly British noble family with extensive territorial interests along the western end of the Saxon Shore who may have been entrusted with its defence in the last days of sub-Roman authority. Once that authority had faded, he could have decided to go further and assume total authority in the region. The ASC suggests that when Cerdic 'landed' in 495 (ie. decided to take over), a Saxon settlement existed around Cerdicesora and that Cerdic, 'within about six years of [his] coming... overcame the West Saxon kingdom' (between 495-501) (ASC. mnsrpt. A Parker Chron). Whether or not the above theory is accepted, this took place at about the same time as the Saxons in southern Britain were defeated at Mons Badonicus. This could mean that Cerdic overcame the local territory and its British occupants, but is more likely an indication that the earlier Saxon and Jutish (mercenary) settlements around Southampton Water (neighbouring the Meonware to the immediate east) were bent to Cerdic's cause. These Jutish settlements had probably existed for thirty or so years, and very likely had mingled with some Saxons who had been settled by the Romans in return for defending the Saxon Shore, plus some communities which may have migrated westwards from theearliest days of settlement by the Suth Seaxe. The lack of archaeological evidence in the area that is specifically German supports the idea that the kingdom was formed from elements that had already been partially absorbed into British culture. This mixing of various peoples is also noted amongst the Belgae on the Continent in the first century BC. Several tribes there are sometimes thought by scholars to be Germanic, although much of the evidence seems to suggest that they were either Belgic Celts, or were ruled by a Belgic nobility. The idea of the Belgae being a mix of Germans and Celts to some extent is firmly stated as being reported to Julius Caesar by the locals. It is a model that could also provide the basis for the foundation of Wessex: local Belgae, who were perhaps already semi-German, fusing with German foederati in late Roman Britain and then with Saxons to form the population of the new kingdom, people who were sometimes known as the Gewissae (and also later as the Hwicce). Geoffrey Tobin suggests that the 'landing' of 495 be taken literally. The Encyclopaedia of Earth states 'Tidal streams in the eastern English Channel and [around the] Channel Islands area [are] generally anti-clockwise, whilst the western entrance of the Channel has a clockwise tidal circulation [that is] wedded to the Celtic Sea'. Visualising this, one can expect frequent landings in Hampshire from both Brittany and Flanders by skirting the English coast, and return journeys to the Cotentin peninsula then passing along the coasts of Brittany and France. Cerdic may have taken one of these routes while the Saxons took the other. If the strong states of Domnonia and Dumnonia were one kingdom in the fifth century, and Cerdic were an ambitious noble, perhaps a fractious younger brother of the magistrate or ruler of this region, this would explain his actions in landing near Southampton (as Bretons later often did) and taking on the loyalist Natanleod (in 508). Having established a beach-head, it would reflectthe times for him to have forged alliances with rebellious Britons, immigrant Saxons, and hybrid groups who needed a seasoned battle leader. FeatureAs for the Gewissae in Cerdic's story, it seems likely that Gewis could have been a Thames Valley Saxon leader whose pedigree was later attached to Cerdic to give him a degree of legitimacy in the eyes of rival Anglo-Saxon kings. Whatever the politics of the situation in the Thames Valley and the West Saxon heartland of Hampshire, by AD 519, Cerdic had fully secured control of his territory and was proclaimed king of the West Seaxe. (Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Geoffrey Tobin, and on eighth century Wessex by Mick Baker, and from The Oxford History of England: The English Settlements, J N L Meyers, from The Oxford History of England: Anglo-Saxon England, Sir Frank Stenton, from Wessex, Barbara Yorke, from Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede, from the Oxford Online Dictionary of National Biography: Cenwalh, Barbara Yorke (2004), from The Earliest English Kings, D P Kirby (1992), from Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England, Barbara Yorke, from the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, John Marius Wilson (1870-1872), from Making Anglo-Saxon Devon: Exeter, Robert Higham (2008), from the BBC series, King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons, first broadcast from 6 August 2013, from the Annales Cambriae, James Ingram (taken from the Harleian manuscript, the earliest surviving version, London, Everyman Press, 1912), from The Peterborough Chronicle (the E Manuscript version of the Anglo-SaxonChronicle), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia of Earth and the Megalithic Portal, and Early Christian to medieval settlement and cemetery (Historic England).) 495 According to tradition, Cerdic and his (young) son Cynric, together with Saxon and possibly some Jutish companions, land in five ships on the south coast at Cerdices ora (Cerdic's Shore, possibly the western side of the Solent), and begin a takeover of the local Jutish, Saxon and sub-Roman territories. The Jutes and Saxons who are already settled there are apparently already referring to themselves as the West Seaxe (possibly separate from the Meonware to the east). 519 After defeating Britons at Cerdices ford (perhaps Charford on the River Avon about ten kilometres south of Salisbury, Cerdic is declared king of the West Seaxe. Cynric is variously described as his son or grandson in different versions of the West Saxon genealogy. Creoda appears between him and Cerdic in the pedigree of Ine of Wessex and some texts that use it, such as Asser and the Chronicle entry for 855. No incident involving him is noted in the annals but his name may survive in a minor Wiltshire place name, Creodanhyll. Theoretically, Creoda could be Cerdic's son, and Cynric his son, or even a much younger brother. If it is assumed that Cynric is very young in 495, perhaps no more than ten years old, then the length of his involvement in West Saxon affairs is not quite so unbelievable. Perhaps also Creoda is illegitimate, a factor frequently likely to see an elder son sidelined in favour of a younger, legitimate one. (There are two other early Creodas, one of the Iclingas c.580 who is clearly different, and one of the Lindisware c.500 who is harder to distinguish as being entirely separate.) 534 Cerdic is buried (according to tradition) at Cerdicesbeorg, a former barrow at Stoke near Hurstbourne that is recorded in an eleventh century charter. Wihtgar, who had arrived in AD 514, claims the kingship of the Jutish Isle of Wight. The location of Cerdic's burial suggests he has been involved in some operations at the eastern end of the Wansdyke, where it terminates adjacent to the Roman road from Winchester (capital of the proposed Caer Gwinntguic). In 534 that location seems to bewithin the north-eastern borders of Caer Celemion, close to Caer Ceri's southern border and within touching distance of the Thames Valley Saxons and their Ciltern Saetan neighbours at their westernmost limits.

The West Saxons formed one of the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England - in fact it was their kingdom that formed the basis of a single, united English kingdom in the mid-tenth century. However, their beginnings are shrouded in mystery, seeminglyformed out of two separate stories that were combined by later generations to make them look better. In very simple terms, the Gewissae (a Saxon tribe descended from Gewis of Baeldaeg's Folk), are claimed as having landed on the south coast where they began to carve out an area of settlement for themselves. This was traditionally in AD 495, and this band of Saxons was led by Cerdic, whose mother (and name) were British.

This straightforward version of events appears to be the result of a traditional form of story telling that covers a more interesting and intricate story. It's rare to have a story of conquest that begins so long before the main participants in the story - the West Saxons - are brought into the story, the gap being between AD 495-519 during which time Cerdic appears to be establishing his own power base. It has been suggested that Cerdic headed a British power bloc which, with Germanic mercenaries or helpthat was related to him through intermarriage to Jutes or Saxons, staged a takeover and was able to set up a viable Brito-Saxon kingdom. Scholar K Sisam points out (in Anglo-Saxon Royal Genealogies, 1953) that Cerdic's pedigree has no independent authority. It has been put together from that of the Bernician kings and his real ancestry is unknown. He evidently could not claim descent from any Germanic family of importance. This seems to strengthen the possibility of him having position and/or power within Romano-British society. Even the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (ASC) describes him and his 'son', Cynric, as ealdormen, a term normally used in ninth century England for someone who was a prominent official having authority, both civil and military, over a specific territory forming part of a kingdom.

FeatureIt is interesting to note that the date of Cerdic's proposed takeover is very close to the approximate date of the heavy Saxon defeat at Mons Badonicus, circa 496. Could Cerdic have spotted the power vacuum that occurred with the loss of the Bretwalda's power and been in a position to take advantage of it? Given that, and the ASC's description of his rank, it is tempting to think that Cerdic was the head of a partly British noble family with extensive territorial interests along the western end of the Saxon Shore who may have been entrusted with its defence in the last days of sub-Roman authority. Once that authority had faded, he could have decided to go further and assume total authority in the region.

The ASC suggests that when Cerdic 'landed' in 495 (ie. decided to take over), a Saxon settlement existed around Cerdicesora and that Cerdic, 'within about six years of [his] coming... overcame the West Saxon kingdom' (between 495-501) (ASC. mnsrpt. A Parker Chron). Whether or not the above theory is accepted, this took place at about the same time as the Saxons in southern Britain were defeated at Mons Badonicus. This could mean that Cerdic overcame the local territory and its British occupants, but is more likely an indication that the earlier Saxon and Jutish (mercenary) settlements around Southampton Water (neighbouring the Meonware to the immediate east) were bent to Cerdic's cause.

These Jutish settlements had probably existed for thirty or so years, and very likely had mingled with some Saxons who had been settled by the Romans in return for defending the Saxon Shore, plus some communities which may have migrated westwards from theearliest days of settlement by the Suth Seaxe. The lack of archaeological evidence in the area that is specifically German supports the idea that the kingdom was formed from elements that had already been partially absorbed into British culture. This mixing of various peoples is also noted amongst the Belgae on the Continent in the first century BC. Several tribes there are sometimes thought by scholars to be Germanic, although much of the evidence seems to suggest that they were either Belgic Celts, or were ruled by a Belgic nobility. The idea of the Belgae being a mix of Germans and Celts to some extent is firmly stated as being reported to Julius Caesar by the locals. It is a model that could also provide the basis for the foundation of Wessex: local Belgae, who were perhaps already semi-German, fusing with German foederati in late Roman Britain and then with Saxons to form the population of the new kingdom, people who were sometimes known as the Gewissae (and also later as the Hwicce).

Geoffrey Tobin suggests that the 'landing' of 495 be taken literally. The Encyclopaedia of Earth states 'Tidal streams in the eastern English Channel and [around the] Channel Islands area [are] generally anti-clockwise, whilst the western entrance of the Channel has a clockwise tidal circulation [that is] wedded to the Celtic Sea'. Visualising this, one can expect frequent landings in Hampshire from both Brittany and Flanders by skirting the English coast, and return journeys to the Cotentin peninsula then passing along the coasts of Brittany and France. Cerdic may have taken one of these routes while the Saxons took the other. If the strong states of Domnonia and Dumnonia were one kingdom in the fifth century, and Cerdic were an ambitious noble, perhaps a fractious younger brother of the magistrate or ruler of this region, this would explain his actions in landing near Southampton (as Bretons later often did) and taking on the loyalist Natanleod (in 508). Having established a beach-head, it would reflectthe times for him to have forged alliances with rebellious Britons, immigrant Saxons, and hybrid groups who needed a seasoned battle leader.

FeatureAs for the Gewissae in Cerdic's story, it seems likely that Gewis could have been a Thames Valley Saxon leader whose pedigree was later attached to Cerdic to give him a degree of legitimacy in the eyes of rival Anglo-Saxon kings. Whatever the politics of the situation in the Thames Valley and the West Saxon heartland of Hampshire, by AD 519, Cerdic had fully secured control of his territory and was proclaimed king of the West Seaxe.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Geoffrey Tobin, and on eighth century Wessex by Mick Baker, and from The Oxford History of England: The English Settlements, J N L Meyers, from The Oxford History of England: Anglo-Saxon England, Sir Frank Stenton, from Wessex, Barbara Yorke, from Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede, from the Oxford Online Dictionary of National Biography: Cenwalh, Barbara Yorke (2004), from The Earliest English Kings, D P Kirby (1992), from Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England, Barbara Yorke, from the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, John Marius Wilson (1870-1872), from Making Anglo-Saxon Devon: Exeter, Robert Higham (2008), from the BBC series, King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons, first broadcast from 6 August 2013, from the Annales Cambriae, James Ingram (taken from the Harleian manuscript, the earliest surviving version, London, Everyman Press, 1912), from The Peterborough Chronicle (the E Manuscript version of the Anglo-SaxonChronicle), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia of Earth and the Megalithic Portal, and Early Christian to medieval settlement and cemetery (Historic England).)

495
According to tradition, Cerdic and his (young) son Cynric, together with Saxon and possibly some Jutish companions, land in five ships on the south coast at Cerdices ora (Cerdic's Shore, possibly the western side of the Solent), and begin a takeover of the local Jutish, Saxon and sub-Roman territories. The Jutes and Saxons who are already settled there are apparently already referring to themselves as the West Seaxe (possibly separate from the Meonware to the east).
519

After defeating Britons at Cerdices ford (perhaps Charford on the River Avon about ten kilometres south of Salisbury, Cerdic is declared king of the West Seaxe.
Cynric is variously described as his son or grandson in different versions of the West Saxon genealogy. Creoda appears between him and Cerdic in the pedigree of Ine of Wessex and some texts that use it, such as Asser and the Chronicle entry for 855. No incident involving him is noted in the annals but his name may survive in a minor Wiltshire place name, Creodanhyll. Theoretically, Creoda could be Cerdic's son, and Cynric his son, or even a much younger brother. If it is assumed that Cynric is very young in 495, perhaps no more than ten years old, then the length of his involvement in West Saxon affairs is not quite so unbelievable. Perhaps also Creoda is illegitimate, a factor frequently likely to see an elder son sidelined in favour of a younger, legitimate one. (There are two other early Creodas, one of the Iclingas c.580 who is clearly different, and one of the Lindisware c.500 who is harder to distinguish as being entirely separate.)

534
Cerdic is buried (according to tradition) at Cerdicesbeorg, a former barrow at Stoke near Hurstbourne that is recorded in an eleventh century charter. Wihtgar, who had arrived in AD 514, claims the kingship of the Jutish Isle of Wight.

The location of Cerdic's burial suggests he has been involved in some operations at the eastern end of the Wansdyke, where it terminates adjacent to the Roman road from Winchester (capital of the proposed Caer Gwinntguic). In 534 that location seems to bewithin the north-eastern borders of Caer Celemion, close to Caer Ceri's southern border and within touching distance of the Thames Valley Saxons and their Ciltern Saetan neighbours at their westernmost limits.