Cerdic of Wessex (-534)

Biography
Cerdic was allegedly the first King of Anglo-Saxon Wessex from 519 to 534, cited by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as the founder of the Kingdom of Wessex and ancestor of all its subsequent kings. (See House of Wessex family tree).

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cerdic landed in Hampshire in 495 with his son Cynric in five ships.

Descent from Cerdic became a necessary criterion for later kings of Wessex, and Egbert of Wessex (c769-839), progenitor of the English royal house and subsequent rulers of England and Britain, claimed him as an ancestor.

Purported Ancestry
Any Ancestry for Cerdic is highly suspect and is generally believed to be inaccurate. Here is one example from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles: Cerdic was the father of Cynric, Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday of Woden.

Anglo Saxon Chronicles
Source: Online Medieval and Classical Library Part 1 (400-750 AD)