Ælle of Sussex

ASES (also Aelli ) applies according to tradition by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was the first king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Sussex and is in the entry of the year 827 ( 829 ) of the A manuscript of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which in turn is based on information provided in Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, referred to as the first Bretwalda. ASES is regarded as a historical person.

Life

There are no contemporary sources to Aelle, whose origin is unknown. The later tradition writes Aelle to the year 477, or about a quarter of a century after the semi - legendary Arrival of Hengest and Horsa in Kent, with his sons cymene, Wlenking and Cissa in three ships with other Saxon troops on the coast of named after them Sussex ( " South Saxons " ) to be (probably the Selsey Peninsula, West Sussex ) landed at Cymenesora. Archaeological finds indicate Germanic settlement traces by at Brighton between the rivers Ouse and Cuckmere already somewhat earlier time. He suggested the resident Romano-British in a battle, and pursued them to the forest Andredesleage at Pevensey. The output of a battle against the Romano - British in the year 485 at Mearcrædesburnan stæðe, a non-localized border river is unknown. The city Andredes ceaster ( fort Anderitum, today Pevensey ) was besieged and stormed 491 of the Anglo-Saxons beneath their leaders Aelle and Cissa. The defenders were massacred without exception. This is probably the last attachment of the Litus saxonicum had fallen into Saxon hands. Finally Aelle was the imperium ( sovereignty ) awarded in the south of the English area if this preeminence is also of limited duration was. The Germanic settlers or at least their culture spread throughout the archaeological record by rapidly throughout Sussex. Settlement focused on the coastal plain and the river valleys of the South Downs, while in the northeast wooded Weald remained largely uninhabited. In the battle of Mons Badonicus that interrupted the Saxon expansion to 500, Aelle was probably involved as an Anglo -Saxon army commander. To what extent do the reports of the chroniclers of the historical reality is hard to assess. Although some local names might be due to Ælles sons ( cymene: Cymenesora, Wlenking: Lancing and Cissa: Chichester ), but can the sons have been extrapolated from the place name.

Henry of Huntingdon, a chronicler of the 12th century, noted that Aelle ( 530 ) died " at this time " and his son, Cissa and his descendants were kings, whose influence, however, was always lower. These statements about the succession to the throne are considered as unsecured. Roger of Wendover wrote in the 13th century in his Flores Historiarum that Aelle died in 514 and his son Cissa followed him on the throne. However, Rogers are contradictory to some extent.

Swell

• Venerable Bede Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, online in Medieval Source Book (English)
• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Online at Project Gutenberg (English)