Wessex

Wessex (Old English Westseaxe = " West - Saxons " ) was one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms during the Heptarchy, that existed before the Kingdom of England. Wessex was in the south and south-west England. Meantime, it was about the sixth century to the 10th century inventory.

Kingdom of Wessex

Wessex was founded by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by Cerdic and Cynric, although the Chronicle for this early period are not always reliable. Sure handed down in the Chronicle regarding Wessex was the baptism Cynegils to 635

The influence of Wessex extended since the early 9th century to the present-day counties of Devon and Cornwall and led to a substantial increase in the power of the kings of Wessex, which gained strength under Egbert of Wessex. The northern boundary of Wessex was probably the Thames. The area is now the heartland of the counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Berkshire. An important settlement in Wessex was Winchester, that the Great 871 the capital was Alfred.

The burghal of Hidage system under Alfred kept the South of England from invasion by the Danes. Some sources indicate that the kingship was not inherited. The strongest candidate to the royal dignity was chosen from the group of the oldest families or subjected the less powerful kings.

Kings of Wessex

  • Cerdic ( 519-534 )
  • Cynric ( 534-560 )
  • Ceawlin ( 560-591 )
  • Ceol ( 591-597 )
  • Ceolwulf ( 597-611 )
  • Cynegils ( 611-643 ) Cwichelm (611? -636 )
  • Cuthred Cwichelming, sub- king in Berkshire ( 648-661 )
  • Cenred, sub- king in Dorset ( fl to 670/676-705/717 )
  • Baldred, sub- king in North Somerset and Wiltshire (fl. 681-693 )
  • Cissa, sub- king in Wiltshire and parts of Berkshire ( fl? -699? )

As a result, the Kingdom of Wessex was in the Kingdom of England (see: List of rulers of England ).

Wessex as a fictional county

Wessex was the English author Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) used as a fictional county in South West England, in the play most of his novels.

Earl of Wessex

Unusually, Prince Edward in 1999 was appointed on the occasion of his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones, Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn. The title of Earl of Wessex has not been used for over 900 years. The last Earl, King Harold II, was killed during the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Meanwhile exist in the south central England efforts to form a regional, cultural and political identity in Wessex.

6th century Cerdic of Wessex Cynric of Wessex Cynegils of Wessex Burghal Hidage Ceawlin of Wessex Ceol of Wessex Ceolwulf of Wessex Cenwalh of Wessex Penda of Mercia Cenred of Wessex Seaxburh of Wessex Centwine of Wessex Cissa (West Saxon) Cædwalla of Wessex Cuthred of Wessex Sigeberht of Wessex Cynewulf of Wessex Beorhtric of Wessex House of Wessex
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