Cerdic discoursed, king of the Saxons, Father of England: "Old, hoary is Cerdic your king, kinsmen-thanemen, Warriors of Wessex. The understanding of "accuracy" in reporting historical events was not held to the same standard in the 9th-12th centuries CE as it is today and, as noted above, each source seems to indicate a slightly, or significantly, different kind of narrative. For by them he conquered all his enemies and won every field that was fought.". Manyother solutions have been proposed over the years, but most leaveunresolved problems which the Cerdic-Arthur theory explains. 495: This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and Cynric his son, with five ships, at a place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And they fought with the Welsh the same day. Cerdic. Cerdic was the first king of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex who reigned from 519 to 534, and the ancestor of all the subsequent Anglo-Saxon Kings of England. Written by Joshua J. However, though claimed as the founder of Wessex by later West Saxon kings, he would have been known to contemporaries as king of the Gewissae Please support World History Encyclopedia Foundation. Also Cerdic's father, Elesa, has been identified by some scholars with the Romano-Briton Elasius, the "chief of the region", met by Germanus of Auxerre. Web. 527 (during) Sources indicate that Cerdic, King of Wessex, and his son, Cynric, fought another battle against the Britons, but the location is unclear. Mark, Joshua J. 508: This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king, whose name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him. They played a key role in leading the Saxon tribes in conquering Britain in the sixth century AD. He is recognized as the ancestor of the later kings of Gwent in Welsh legend, and as a Welsh noble, but not as king of the Britons. Everything known about him comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Other scholars have also suggested a strong link with Arthur, some claiming Cerdic was Arthur's son or nephew and others claiming they were adversaries. He was married about 492 in Wessex,Germany to Unknown Wife, they gave birth to 1 child. These entries in the Chronicles and later interpretations from other sources epitomize the difficulty in reconciling the sources of the time into a single, cohesive narrative. The Gewissae (a Saxon tribe descended from Gewis of Baeldaeg's Folk), landed on the south coast of England and began to conquer an area of territory from the native British Celts. Last modified December 30, 2015. He married Guignier of Cornwall in 0492. It must be suspected that the place names preceded the persons referred to, rather than the reverse, and that the history of the latter was concocted to explain the existence of the former (178). The confusion has a special cause. Precisely why he was so influential is debated, however, in that the ancient sources conflict in their accounts of his life, who he was, and what he accomplished - so much so that a number of historians in the present day question whether Cerdic even existed. The standard version of Cerdic's story that Morris refers to relates how Cerdic arrived in Hampshire in 495 CE with his son, Cynric, in five ships and instantly defeated the Welsh (or, alternately, the Britons). According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cerdic landed in Hampshire in 495 with his son Cynric in five ships. His pedigrees alone are patent inventions, for his 'ancestors' are lifted from the straightforward traditions of other English dynasties, and later Wessex kings are represented as his descendants by improbable and contradictory links that credit some of them with two or three different fathers. Each author who addressed himself to the topic of Cerdic's life and reign seems to have had a particular agenda to advance (as was stated by Morris, above). World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. A further difficulty is in understanding exactly which year is being referenced since the practice of dating the beginning of the year to January 1st had not yet been implemented. J.N.L. At some point, after his service to Vortigern, Cerdic left the mainland for Brittany, gathered a Saxon force there, and returned in 495 CE. He is alternately described as a British earl who led a Saxon army, an English noble, a Saxon commander, a Welsh hero, and an English king. This could mean that Cerdic overcame the local territory and its British occupants, but is more likely an indication that the earlier Saxon and Jutish (Ytene) settlements around Southampton Water (neighbouring the Meonware to the immediate east) were allied to Cerdic's cause. As Cerdic is reported to have landed in Hampshire, some argue that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle proves that Cerdic was indeed a Saxon, some scholars believe it likely that his mother was a British Celt who left for the Continent. (111). While Cerdic's area of operation was, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in the area north of Southampton, there is archaeological evidence of early Anglo-Saxon activity in the area around Dorchester-on-Thames. 514: This year came the West-Saxons into Britain, with three ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuf and Whitgar fought with the Britons and put them to flight. Some scribes seem to recognize the start of the new year as Christmas, while others date it to Easter. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Cerdic and his son Cynric landed in Britain in 495 and went into battle the same day. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Elesa, thought to have been Cerdic's father, has been identified by some scholars with the Romano-Briton Elasius, the "chief of the region", met by Germanus of Auxerre. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Sarum, and put them to flight. Cite This Work Cerdic, (died 534), founder of the West Saxon kingdom, or Wessex. Their story is that the kingdom of Wessex owed its origin to Cerdic, who was in command of a number of separate Saxon forces under named leaders, at a date that was originally set at about 480. A Model of Cerdic's Early Career in Britain . His origin, ethnicity, and even his very existence have been extensively disputed. 527: This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with Britons in the place that is called Cerdic's-ley. Cynric was King of Wessex from 534 to 560. Cynric his son succeeded to the government and reigned afterwards 26 winters. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles are manuscripts first begun in the late 9th century CE under the reign of Alfred the Great (849-899 CE). World History Encyclopedia. Cerdic OF WESSEX. The historian Nennius, who is thought to have written his History of the Britons in 828 CE, claims Arthur never lost a single one of his famous twelve battles which would have taken place in the 6th century CE. This may indicate that Cerdic was a native Briton, and that his dynasty became Anglicised. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Cerdic/. To cite only a few of the comparisons they make: "Arthur" and "Vreichvras" both mean "strong arm"; both are associated with Wessex and, especially, Winchester; both are illegitimate sons; both dominate the region later known as Wessex c. 500 CE; Arthur is the son of Uther and Igerna while Cerdic is the son of Elessa and Isaive; and Arthur marries Guinevere of Cornwall, Cerdic marries Guignier of Cornwall. His direct descendant, Egbert, in Old English Ecgbehrt, became the first King of all England, Egbert was born around 770-780 and was the son of Ealhmund, King of Kent, who is mentioned in a charter of 784. Cerdic of Wessex is sometimes identified with the contemporary Prince of Gwent, Cerdic, son of Eliseg, who descended in the direct male line from the famous first century Celtic patriot king, Caractacus, who fought the Roman invaders.. When the Roman army left Britain , Cerdic would have been a respected officer in the mercenary army. by Guardian Unlimited (Copyright, fair use). The historian Roger Collins comments on this, regarding "history" and place names, writing: There is an unbridgeable chronological gulf between the supposed founding period of the notional kingdom of Wessex in the late fifth century and the next period in which those who are said to be members of its ruling house appear, in the second half of the sixth century. If such a dominant native family as that of Cerdic had already developed blood-relationships with existing Saxon and Jutish settlers at this end of the Saxon Shore, it could very well be tempted, once effective Roman authority had faded, to go further. Geoffrey of Monmouth mentions Cerdic as an ally of Hengist and Vortigern in Chapter VI.13 of his History of the Kings of Briton when Vortigern and Hengist call for "gallant warriors" to come help them defeat the barbarians: "and Cerdic came with three hundred ships (Nennius says 40) all full of an armed host, all of whom did Vortigern receive kindly, bestowing upon them unstinted largesse. Other explanations for Wessex being originally known as The Kingdom of Gewisse make far less sense, such as the claim that it was named for Cerdic's mother. Contents [hide] 1 Official life and career 2 Origins 3 Modern times 4 External links [edit] Official life and career (2015, December 30). Mark, Joshua J. The Anglo-Saxons were partly descended from the Germanic tribes who migrated from Europe and settled the south and east of England at the beginning in the early fifth century. This may indicate that Cerdic was a Saxon, or sub-Roman authority with its defence Arthur '' Dark Age.... 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