Hwicce

The name Hwicce had in the old English the meaning box, crate or chest. He has until today in the place names Wychwood ( Oxfordshire ) and Whichford ( Warwickshire ) and receive on behalf of the district Wychavon in Worcestershire. In Tribal Hidage the size Hwicces was given as 7,000 Hides, which corresponded to the surface of the kingdoms of Essex and Lindsey.

History

The area, at least the southern part, was captured at the Battle of Deorham 577 by the West Saxons under Ceawlin of the Kingdom of Wessex. The colonization of the northern part was carried out by organized groups of fishing. The early, still pagan Anglo-Saxon settlement is demonstrated mainly in the east Hwicces, in the valley of the River Avon and the Cotswolds, in the form of a few hundred graves with grave goods. Since the early 7th century mainly adding anything loose burials could be detected, which are not necessarily attributed to the Christianization, but also considered a takeover Romano- British customs.

Even before the year 603, when Augustine of Canterbury " on the borders of Wiccii and West Saxons " a bishops' conference held to Hwicce had solved of Wessex. The Kingdom Hwicce possibly emerged from a Romano- Britannic predecessor State. It corresponded approximately to the settlement area of ​​the Britannic Dobunni In 628 defeated King Penda of Mercia Wessex in the Battle of Cirencester and seems to have brought the Kingdom Hwicce under its domination. Religious center of the kingdom was the episcopal Worcester. Probably the creation of the Kingdom Hwicce went back to the union of the Anglian North with the Saxon south by Penda.

Ruler of Hwicce

The kings were probably related to one another and formed a dynasty. A family tree of the kings is not received, so it is unclear how the dynasty was linked to that of Wessex or Mercia. The royal family is mostly known only by the evidence. Striking is the repeatedly occurring joint rule of brothers. The royal house founded several monasteries and abbeys, which often lead female family members were transferred.

King Osric ( 680 ) and his brother Oswald, who not emerged politically, came from a distinguished family. He was a contemporary of Æthelred of Mercia ( 674/675-704 ), to whom he owed ​​allegiance. In 675 Osric founded in Bath land for the construction of a convent under the Abbess Berta. The Abbey of St. Peter in Gloucester he had built 679. The bishopric was founded around 680 Worcester was equipped by Osric and his successors generous with lands. Osric's had time to Wilfrid, Bishop of York, in Hwicce.

He was followed by rex (king) Oshere ( 690 ), who died before 716. Osheres sons Æthelheard (before 706 -? ) And Æthelweard (before 706-716 ) was followed as subregulus ( Under King ) jointly to the throne. Then the government went to their brother Æthelric (? -736 ) Over. Æthelric signed as subregulus comes atque ( Under King and follower ) a certificate Æthelbalds of Mercia.

At the beginning of the reign of Offa of Mercia ( 757-796 ) was Hwicce of the three brothers Eanberht ( 755-759? ), Uhtred ( 755- after 779 ) and Ealdred ( 755- after 778 ), the title regulus (small king) contributed ruled. Offa was able to strengthen its influence in Hwicce and 778 Ealdred was dubbed in a document as subregulus ( viceroy ).

Ealdormen of Hwicce

According to them the title of king seemed not to have been awarded. In the 780er years Offa Mercia merged and Hwicce. Hwicce has now managed by a Ealdorman. In the year 802 the Ealdorman Æthelmund fell in a battle against Wessex. Probably his son Æthelric became his successor. The area remained under the rule of Mercia until the fall of this kingdom. Under Earl Æthelred it was 877-883 with the rest of Mercia to King Alfred.

In the 10th century the area was in the shires Worcestershire and Gloucestershire was divided; Parts were Warwickshire and Winchcombeshire incorporated. Leofwine, father of Leofric and father of Godgifu (Lady Godiva ), was in the early 11th century Ealdorman of Hwicce, but the office had changed and had outgrown the regional significance.

Swell

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