Gewisse

The Gewissæ (even certain ) was a Saxon ethnic group, which settled on the upper Thames in England towards the end of the 5th century. It was named after conscience, a mythical ancestor of the Kings of the House of Wessex. According to another view, the name from the Old English word certainly is ( " certainly, safe, reliable " ) is derived.

History

After the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Cerdic and Cynric went around the year 495 in Britain on land and should after a long struggle to 519 her kingdom have established. To the 577 Gewissæ under Ceawlin undertook a sortie to the northwest and could probably conquer the southern part of Gloucestershire in the Battle of Deorham. It is not possible to designate the area of ​​influence of the early kings right, especially since it certainly was shifting boundaries again and again. Ceawlins influence was so great that he was called Bretwalda ( "Upper King ").

Archaeological finds from the period around 600 indicate a significant time for this kingdom. Findings show contacts to the kingdom of Kent, the Franks, and even to Byzantium. 614 succeeded King Cynegils ( 611-642 ) and his son Cwichelm an important victory against the British at Beandun (probably Bampton in Oxfordshire ), as a result, he won the eastern Cornwall. To 617 it came from unknown reasons apparently successful battles against the Kingdom of Essex. The Battle of Cirencester 628 against Penda of Mercia emerging ended for King Cynegils with a negotiated peace and the loss of supremacy over the kingdom Hwicce. Around the year 634 King Cynegils allowed the missionary Birinus to preach in his kingdom and to build 635 in Dorcic ( Dorchester-on -Thames ) is a diocese. In the late 660 years Gewissæ lost the territories north of the Thames to Mercia and the settlement focus shifted to the southwest.

Under Caedwalla ( 685-688 ) conquered the Gewissæ Surrey, the Isle of Wight and became predominant over Sussex and Essex. His brother Mul ( 686-687 ) was briefly King of Kent. Caedwalla was the last ruler was called the "King of Gewissæ ". The term Seaxe ( "Saxons" ) had in the course of the 7th century supplanted the old tribal names, the final in the early 8th century the name Westseaxe ( "West - Saxons ," Wessex ) had given way. These name changes reflect the political development of Stammeskönigtum for territorial domination.

Swell

Cerdic of Wessex Cynric of Wessex Ceawlin of Wessex Francia Cynegils of Wessex United Kingdom Cædwalla of Wessex Internet History Sourcebooks Project Barbara Yorke
262756
de