Everything about Cynegils Of Wessex totally explained
Cynegils (died c.
642) was an
Anglo-Saxon king of the
West Saxons in the early 7th century.
Cynegils is traditionally considered to have been
King of Wessex, but the familiar kingdoms of the so-called
Heptarchy hadn't yet formed from the patchwork of smaller kingdoms in his lifetime. The later kingdom of
Wessex was centred on the counties of
Hampshire,
Dorset,
Somerset, and
Wiltshire, but the evidence of the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is that the kingdom of Cynegils was located on the upper
River Thames, extending into northern Wiltshire and Somerset, southern
Gloucestershire and
Oxfordshire, and western
Berkshire, with
Dorchester-on-Thames as one the major royal sites. This region, probably connected to the early tribal grouping known as the
Gewisse, a term used by
Bede for the West Saxons, lay on the frontier between the later kingdoms of Wessex and
Mercia.
It appears that Cynegils became king on the death of King
Ceolwulf c. 611. His relationship to Ceolwulf is uncertain. Cynegils is variously described in West Saxon sources as being a son of Ceolwulf, a son of Ceol brother of Ceolwulf, a son of Ceola son of Cutha, a son of Cuthwine son of Ceawlin, and a son of Cuthwulf son of Cuthwine. Several of the sources give Cynegils a brother named Ceolwald, described as the grandfather of King
Ine. Although the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Wessex king lists portray the West Saxons as ruled by a single king, it's likely that the kingship was shared between two or more kings.
The
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 611 states: "This year Cynegils succeeded to the government in Wessex, and held it one and thirty winters. Cynegils was the son of Ceol, Ceol of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric." Contradicting this simple account, the entry under 614 states that "This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at
Bampton, and slew two thousand and forty-six of the
Welsh." Likewise,
Bede writes that the attempted assassination of King
Edwin of Deira was ordered by the West Saxon King
Cwichelm. Whether the King Cwichelm of 614 is the same person as the king of the late 620s, and whether this person is the same as the Cwichelm who was
baptised, and died, c. 636, is disputed. Some historians presume Cwichelm to have been a son of Cynegils.
In 628, Cynegils and Cwichelm fought King
Penda at
Cirencester. The
Chronicle could be expected to report a victory, but does not, so it's likely that Penda was the victor. Cynegils and Cwichelm appear to have been subject to
Edwin of Deira by this time, paying an enormous tribute of a hundred thousand
hides if
Nick Higham's conception of the
Tribal Hidage's origins is correct.
In the 630s, Bishop
Birinus established himself at Dorchester, and both Cynegils and Cwichelm are said to have been baptised with King
Oswald of Bernicia as their godfather. Another West Saxon king, named
Cuthred, who died c. 661, appears at this time. Oswald married a daughter of Cynegils at this time. Her name isn't recorded in early sources, but
Reginald of Durham calls her Kyneburga (Cyneburg). This mission appears to have made little long-term impact as Cynegils' son
Cenwalh wasn't baptised until 646, according to the
Chronicle, after having been driven from his kingdom by Penda.
The date of Cynegils' death isn't certainly known. Bede states that he was followed by his son Cenwalh, whose reign is dated from 643 by the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
As well as Cenwalh, and the daughter who married Oswald, Cynegils is said to have had a son named Cwichelm, who may or may not be the same person as the king associated with Cynegils. It is said that King
Centwine was a son of Cynegils, but there's strong circumstantial evidence that this identification was a later invention.
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