Ceawlin Wessex (abt. 535 - 593)

Born about 0535 in Wessex [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 0593 at about age 58 in Wessex [uncertain]

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Ceawlin Wessex was a member of aristocracy in ancient Europe. Join: Medieval Project Discuss: medieval

Ceawlin Wessex is a member of the House of Wessex.

Biography

Ceawlin Wessex is Notable.

No mother or spouses are reliably attested for Ceawlin. Any linking of a mother or a spouse without the express agreement of the EuroAristo project in the G2G forum will be disconnected.

Parentage

The Anglo Saxon Chronicle names Ceawlin as son of Cynric, in its recitation of the ancestry of Æthelwulf King of Wessex. This leaves the impression of an after-thought, as none of the passages in the earlier parts of the Chronicle which record Ceawlin’s activity state that he was Cynric’s son. ^[1]

Ceawlin, king of the West- Saxons

Listing the first eight kings who were Bretwalda (a ruler whose authority was recognized by other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms), the Anglo Saxon Chronicles record that second Bretwalda was Ceawlin king of the West- Saxons. ^[2]

560 Reign

He succeeded in 560 as Ceawlin, King of Wessex. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Ceawlin" succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex in 560. ^{[1] [3]}

In a series of battles, Ceawlin won a great deal of territory in the expansion of his kingdom

556 Battle of Beranburh

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Cynric and Ceawlin" defeated the Britons in 556 in battle at "Beranburh" (Beran Byrig); Barbury castle, Wiltshire. ^{[1] [4]}

568 War with Kent

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Ceawlin and Cutha" fought against "Æthelberht" [King of Kent] in 568 and "drove him into Kent", and "slew two ealdormen, Oslaf and Cnebba at Wibbandun". ^{[1] [5]}

577 War with Britons

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Cuthwine and Ceawlin" fought against "the Britons" in 577 and "slew three kings, Coinmail, Condidan and Farinmail" at and captured "three cities Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath". ^{[1] [6]}

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Ceawlin and Cutha" fought against "the Britons" in 584 at "Fethanleag", where Cutha was killed, and captured "many villages and countless booty". Stenton suggests that this place was near Stoke Lyne in north Oxfordshire, and that Ceawlin was defeated in the battle, based on the Chronicle stating that he "departed in anger to his own [territories]", as well as the lack of records of any further advance during his reign. ^{[1] [7]}

Accession of South Saxons (Sussex)

Roger of Wendover records the death of "Cissa rege australium Saxonum" in 590, adding that "regem occidentalium Saxonum Ceaulinum" acquired his kingdom. Bede names "Caelin rex Occidentalium Saxonum" as second of the kings who had authority over the southern provinces, south of the river Humber. Presumably this is based on his victories as reported in the Chronicle, although the reports do not suggest that his authority extended so far north in England. Whatever the truth of the matter, King Ceawlin suffered reverses towards the end of his life as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 592 that "there was great slaughter at Adam’s Grave" [in Alton Priors] and "Ceawlin was expelled", although it is unclear from the text whether the two events were linked. William of Malmesbury records that he was banished from the kingdom after being defeated at Wodnesbeorh, presumably by Ceol who is recorded in 591 as King of Wessex. ^{[1] [8]}

593 Death

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the death in 593 of "Ceawlin and Cwichelm and Crida". Kirby points out that Ceawlin's reign is much shorter according to the West Saxon Genealogical Regnal List. ^{[1] [9]}

Issue

Ceawlin had two children:

1. Cutha, III, was killed in the battle of Fethanleag in 584. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Ceawlin and Cutha" fought against "the Britons" in 584 at "Fethanleag", where Cutha was killed, and captured "many villages and countless booty"[1278]. Florence of Worcester names "Ceaulin rex Occidentalium Saxonum et filius eius Cutha" when recording the same event[1279]. William of Malmesbury also records that King Ceawlin had a son named Cutha "cut off in battle"[1280]. Cutha, son of King Ceawlin, is added in later paragraphs of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle only as the ancestor of later kings, which suggests that the relationship with Ceawlin was added only by the later chroniclers. Cutha was allegedly the ancestor of Cædwalla King of Wessex: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Cædwalla began to contend for the throne" in 685, adding that he was "son of Cœnberht, son of Cadda, son of Cutha, son of Ceawlin, son of Cynric, son of Cerdic"[1281].] ^[1]
2. Cuthwine Wessex, born 556. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Cuthwine and Ceawlin" (no relationship specified between the two) fought against "the Britons" in 577 and "slew three kings, Coinmail, Condidan and Farinmail" at "Dyrham", and captured "three cities Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath"[1282]. Florence of Worcester names "rex Occidentalium Saxonum Ceaulin et filius suus Cuthwine" when recording the same event[1283]. Cuthwine is shown in subsequent paragraphs of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as the ancestor of several later kings, these lines of descent providing examples of the dubious genealogies which link the later kings of Wessex into one family, as discussed in the introduction to this chapter. Cuthwine was allegedly the father of Cynegils King of Wessex: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, under 688, outlining the descent of King Ine, says that "Cynegils" was the son of "Cuthwine, the son of Ceawlin, the son of Cynric"[1284]. However, this is contradicted by an earlier paragraph in the chronicle which states that Ceol King of Wessex was Cynegils’s ancestor: an addition in manuscript A of the Chronicle, under 611 notes that "that Cynegils was the son of Ceol, the son of Cutha, the son of Cynric"[1285], although it is not clear whether this was contemporary with the main part of the paragraph or a later addition. Cuthwine was allegedly also the ancestor both of ætheling Oswald (the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle names Cuthwine as son of Ceawlin, but only in a later passage which records the ancestry of ætheling Oswald[1286]) and of Ine King of Wessex (manuscript A of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Ine succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex" in 688 and ruled thirty-seven years, adding that he was "the son of Cenred, son of Ceolwald…brother of Cynegils…sons of Cuthwine, son of Ceawlin, son of Cynric, son of Cerdic"[1287], although according to William of Malmesbury King Ine descended from Cuthbald, supposedly brother of King Cynegils[1288]).]^[1]

Issue that may be a generation off

# Cutha Cathwulf, born 592.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Charles Cawley. Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Medeival Lands Database. Anglo Saxon and Danish Kings. Ceawlin Accessed July 14, 2018 jhd
2. ↑ explore pages from the original manuscripts at British Library: Anglo Saxon Chronicle
3. ↑ A. 560. This year Ceawlin succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and Ida being dead, Alia succeeded to the kingdom of Northhumbria, each of whom reigned thirty The AngloSaxon Chronicle a.d. 535-560
4. ↑ A. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought against the Britons at Berin-Byrig The AngloSaxon Chronicle a.d. 535-560
5. ↑ The AngloSaxon Chronicle A. 566. 567
6. ↑ The AngloSaxon Chronicle A. 572.-576
7. ↑ The AngloSaxon Chronicle A. 572.-576
8. ↑ 591- This year in Britain was a great slaughter in battle at Woddesbeorg and Ceawlin was expelled. The AngloSaxon Chronicle A. 572.-576
9. ↑ A. 593. This year Ceawlin, and Cwichelm, and Crida perished; and Ethelfrith succeeded to the kingdom of the Northumbrians; he was the son of Ethelric; Ethelric of Ida. The AngloSaxon Chronicle A. 572.-576

See also:

• Source: Wikipedia profile: Ceawlin of Wessex
• FMG's Medieval Lands entry for Cerdic and his sons