Ceawlin of Wessex

Ceawlin (also Ceaulin, Caelin; † ca 593 ) was from 560 bis 591/593 or 581-588 King of Gewissæ, an ethnic group as the " West Saxons " the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex was formed in the 7th century.

In the entry for the year 827 ( 829 ) of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in turn, on information in Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum ii, 5 is based, it is referred to as the second Bretwalda.

Source location

Family

It comes from the House of Wessex, and is the son of Cynric. His brothers were after the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Cutha, Ceolwulf and CELM. Ceawlins sons were Cuthwine and Cutha. His successor Ceol was his nephew.

Rule

Cynric fought together with Ceawlin in 556 at Beranburh ( Barbury Castle) against the British. After Cynrics death his son Ceawlin followed in the year 560 to the throne. Aethelberht of Kent marched into the region between Andredsweald and Thames (south of London ), but was of Ceawlin and his brother Cutha 568 at Wibbandune ( Wimbledon? ) Beaten and persecuted until after Kent. 571 Cuthwulfs a victory over the British at Bedcanford ( Bedford in the Chiltern Hills ) and the conquest of the cities Limbury ( Bedfordshire ), Aylesbury ( Buckinghamshire ), Bensington ( Oxfordshire ) and Eynsham ( Oxfordshire ) is mentioned. Cuthwulf died the same year.

The most significant battle was probably the Battle of Deorham 577 ( Dyrham near Bath ), in which the three British kings Coinmail, Condidan and Farin mail believed to have been, in consequence have Ceawlin can win the towns of Gloucester, Cirencester and Bathcester. This would make it Ceawlin succeeded in reaching the Severn and to separate the British kingdoms of Wales and Cornwall each other. In the year 584 led a campaign Ceawlin and Cutha after Fethanleag ( unsure: Stoke Lyne northeastern Oxfordshire or Fretherne in Gloucestershire ). Cutha fell and Ceawlin returned home with rich booty. For the year 591/592 it is mentioned that Ceawlin was driven out after a massacre in Wôdnesbeorg ( Alton Priors, Wiltshire ), without the exact relationships are clear. Ceol took over as successor to the royal dignity. Ceawlin died in the year 593

State of research

The contradictory information about his grandfather ( Cerdic or Creoda ) could not be finally resolved by the research. A possible explanation could be that Cynrics or Ceawlins line were not Cerdicingas, but were subsequently linked to the dynasty founder Cerdic. The source location to Ceawlin is much better and more extensive than those of his predecessors, and probably goes back to an oral tradition tradition. Since the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, was at the time Alfred the Great ( 871-899 ), a direct descendant Ceawlins written, there is a danger that Ceawlins deeds " put in perspective " were. A biography can therefore carry only broad strokes.

The Gewissæ widened its sphere of influence probably in the second half of the 6th century on the current Wiltshire. This region was settled by Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century. The fights (ASC 556 ) at Beranburh ( Barbury Castle), an Iron Age hill fort were, therefore, not necessarily out against the British. The mapping of archaeological features associated with uncertainty because Gewissæ hardly be distinguished from other Saxon groups of that time.

After Cynrics death, his son Ceawlin followed as the third king of the known Gewissæ to the throne. He is considered one of the most powerful kings of his time. The dating of his reign is difficult and seems to be " stretched " been while assign him the West Saxon king lists a significantly shorter period of seven or seventeen years from the writers of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle on 31 and 32 years ( 560-591/592 ). As a beginning of his reign, therefore, would result in the years 574/575 or 584/585. Maybe his father Cynric but had previously participated in his reign. Ceawlin divided his kingdom apparently first with Cuthwulf, who was perhaps identical with his brother Cutha. Later he took his son Cuthwine in power. The reliability of the accounts of his military campaigns (ASC 568, 571, 577, 584 ) is difficult to assess, at least in the dating must be questioned. The victory Cuthwulfs (ASC 571 ), the deaths of three British kings and the conquest of the three cities (ASC 577 ) may represent historical facts, but the link with Ceawlin to question. Saxon settlement traces are detected in Gloucestershire today already from an earlier time. The region was probably already in Saxon hands, after which the place names that are all Saxon origin point. The entry for the year 571 may total a later construct to strengthen the claim Wessex ' against Mercia on the disputed area in the 8th century by "old rights ".

The presentation Ceawlins as a successful and widely acting ruler is supported by the Venerable Bede, who names him as the second Bretwalda. The regional description of his activities in the wider community of the Upper Thames is plausible, as the future King Cynegils ( 611-642 ), this area apparently regarded as " heartland " of the Gewissæ and in Dorchester -on-Thames established the first bishopric. Presumably, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in South East England, Sussex, Isle of Wight and Kent, acknowledged his supremacy. Even British territories in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, Cotswolds ( Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire ), on the rivers Avon and Severn were probably at least temporarily, to his sphere of influence.

Ceawlins rule apparently ended with riots in the royal house. To 588/591 came his nephew Ceol to power and Ceawlin was driven ( at Wansdyke or Alton Priors, Wiltshire ) to a "great massacre " in Wôdnesbeorg. To 592/593 died Ceawlin and his otherwise unknown putative relatives Cwichelm and Crida. After the death Ceawlins waned supremacy of Gewissæ. Aethelberht of Kent, who by his marriage alliance with the Frankish Empire, Europe had been received at the time most powerful state, gained influence, and was recognized by 600 south of the Humber as the third Bretwalda.

Swell

• Anonymous: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Online in Project Gutenberg (English)
• Æthelweard: Chronica
• Venerable Bede Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, online in Medieval Source Book (English)
• Asher Vita Alfredi; The Life of King Alfred Online ( English) at Online Medieval and Classical Library