- 534-560: Ruler of Gewisse (West Saxon)
Map of 6th Century England including Wessex which was formerly known as Gewisse.
Cynric of Wessex was born on an unknown date to Cerdic of Wessex (-534) and died 560 Wessex of unspecified causes.
Biography
Cynric was King of Wessex from 534 to 560. Everything known about him comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. There he is stated to have been the son of Cerdic of Wessex (-534), and also (in the regnal list in the preface) to have been the son of Cerdic's son, Creoda. They played a key role in leading the Saxon tribes in conquering Britain in the sixth century AD. (See House of Wessex family tree).
During his reign it is said that the Saxons expanded into Wiltshire against strong resistance and captured Searobyrig or Old Sarum, near Salisbury, in 552. In 556 he and his son Ceawlin won a battle against the Britons at Beranburh, now identified as Barbury Castle. If these dates are accurate, then it is unlikely that the earlier entries in the Chronicle, starting with his arrival in Britain with his father Cerdic in 495, are correct. David Dumville has suggested that his true regnal dates are 554-581.
Some sources list Cerdic as the grandfather of Cynric, but many others show them going to war together.
Conquest
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes Cerdic and Cynric with five ships landing in the area around Southampton in 495.[1][2] According to the chronicle, the two are described as aristocratic "aldormen" but only assumed rule over the Gewissae (as the West Saxons were known before the late 7th century) in 519.[3] This implies that Cynric was not a royal leader, and he and his father were only elevated to kingship when they allegedly conquered the heartlands of the future Wessex.
Anglo Saxon Chronicles
Source: Online Medieval and Classical Library Part 1 (400-750 AD)
- AD 514: This year came the West-Saxons into Britain, with three ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuff and Wihtgar fought with the Britons, and put them to flight.
- AD 519: This year Cerdic and Cynric undertook the government of the West-Saxons; the same year they fought with the Britons at a place now called Charford. From that day have reigned the children of the West-Saxon kings.
- AD 527: This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons in the place that is called Cerdic's-ley.
- AD 530: This year Cerdic and Cynric took the isle of Wight, and slew many men in Carisbrook.
- AD 534: This year died Cerdic, the first king of the West-Saxons. Cynric his son succeeded to the government, and reigned afterwards twenty-six winters. And they gave to their two nephews, Stuff and Wihtgar, the whole of the Isle of Wight.
- AD 538: This year the sun was eclipsed, fourteen days before the calends of March, from before morning until nine.
- AD 540: This year the sun was eclipsed on the twelfth day before the calends of July; and the stars showed themselves full nigh half an hour over nine.
- AD 552: This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Sarum, and put them to flight. 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.
- AD 556: This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons at Beranbury.
- AD 560: This year Ceawlin undertook the government of the West-Saxons; and Ella, on the death of Ida, that of the
Northumbrians; each of whom reigned thirty winters.
Family Life
- Caewlin of Wessex (-593) - first son (born c. 535), inherited the throne of King of Wessex in 560) from his father.
- Cutha of Wessex (c540-584) - son, fought several battles, died in battle in 584. Possible father of Ceol of Wessex who usurped the Kingdom.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Caewlin of Wessex (-593) | 593 Wessex | ||
| Cutha of Wessex (c540-584) | 540 Wessex | 584 Fretherne, Wessex | |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Cynric of Wessex (-560) | 560 Wessex | ||
See Also
Bibliography
- Yorke, Barbara (1990). Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England. London: Seaby. ISBN 1-85264-027-8.
- Kirby, D.P. (1992). The Earliest English Kings. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-09086-5.
- Peter Clemoes, Simon Keynes, Michael Lapidge (1981). Anglo-Saxon England, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-03834-0
- Laing, L.R. (1975). The archaeology of late Celtic Britain and Ireland, c. 400-1200 AD, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-416-82360-2
- John Nowell Linton Myres (1989). The English Settlements, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-282235-7
- Sims-Williams, P. (1983) The settlement of England in Bede and the "Chronicle" from Anglo-Saxon England, Vol. 12 pp. 1–41, Cambridge University Press.
- Whittock, M.J. (1986) The Origins of England 410-600 Croom Helm.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Cynric
- House of Wessex - Family Tree Chart on Wikipedia
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - Pt 1 A.D. 250-750 - Online Medieval & Classical Library
- Cynric at thePeerage
- Cynric of Wessex - Geni.com
- Anglo-Saxon and Danish Kings of England - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
- Cynric 1 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
Ancestry Trees
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- House of Wessex
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which gives a genealogy for Æthelwulf of Wessex (c795-858).
Contemporary Sources
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Here are two Old English citations from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle about Cynric of Wessex:
"Her Cynric 7 Ceawlin fuhton wid Brettas æt Beranbyrg. 7 hi sige naman genamon" (Year 556)
Translation: "In this year Cynric and Ceawlin fought against the Britons at Barbury Castle, and took the victory."
"Her Cynric wæs Cerdices sunu, Cerdic wæs Elesinga æfterfaeder. Hi ricsodon 26 wintra" (Year 534)
Translation: "In this year Cynric was the son of Cerdic, who was the successor of the family of Elesa. They reigned for 26 winters."
References
- ^ A theory specifically identifies the site of the landing, at Cerdicesora, as Christchurch Harbour so that the axis of penetration was along the Avon.
- ^ Cunliffe, Barry (2014). Wessex to 1000 AD. Oxon: Routledge. pp. 279. ISBN 9780582492806.
- ^ Kleinschmidt, Harald (2003). People on the Move: Attitudes Toward and Perceptions of Migration in Medieval and Modern Europe. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. pp. 92. ISBN 0275974170.