This is a list of monarchs of Wessex until 924. The names are given in modern English form followed by the names and titles (as far as is known) in contemporary Anglo-Saxon English and Latin, being the prevalent 'official' languages of the time.

This was a time when spellings varied widely, even within a document. A number of variations of the details below exist. Amongst these are the preference between þ [thorn] and ð [eth/thet] (modern 'th'). They were used indiscriminately for voiced and unvoiced sounds, unlike in modern Icelandic. Thorn tended to be more used in the south [Wessex] and thet in the North [Mercia and Northumbria i.e. in Engel-lond]. "Th" was preferred in the earliest period in Northern texts.

The character '7' was used as the ampersand '&' in contemporary Anglo-Saxon writings. The era pre-dates the emergence of forms of writing accepted today, notably minuscule, and the letters 'W' and 'U'. Where W was followed by U this was generally rendered as 'V V' (which was also used for 'W' alone). A letter based on the rune "wynn" was normally used for 'w'. Again, in the earliest period, the Angles/Engle preferred "v v", whilst the West Saxons preferred the letter derived from a rune.( compare "thorn" and "eth" [ this is a modern name. The early name was "thet" it was probably derived from the Greek letter "theta" ])

Except in manuscripts, runic letters were an Anglian phenomenon. [The early Engle restricted the use runes to monuments, whereas the Saxons adopted wynn and thorn for sounds which did not have a Latin equivalent. Otherwise thay were not used in Wessex].

The Kings

Cerdic 519 to 534 (c. 467–534) was the King of Wessex (519–534) and is regarded as the ancestor of all subsequent Kings of Wessex. See King Cerdric

Cynric 534 to 560 (Cynric means roughly 'Royal Ruler') ruled as king of Wessex from 534 to 560. Everything known about him comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. There he is stated to have been the son of Cerdic, and also (in the regnal list in the preface) to have been the son of Cerdic's son, Creoda. During his reign he is said to have captured Searobyrig or Old Sarum, near Salisbury, in 552, and that in 556 he and his son Ceawlin won a battle against the Britons at Beranburh, now identified as Barbury Camp. If these dates are accurate, then it is unlikely that the earlier entries in the chronicle, starting with his arrival in Britain with his father Cerdic in 495, are correct. David Dumville has suggested that his true regnal dates are 554-581.

Ceawlin 560 to 591 Ceawlin of Wessex (also spelled "Ceaulin" or "Caelin") is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as being king of the West Saxons, or Wessex from 560 to 591, and named by Bede in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum as the second king to hold imperium over other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written in the late 9th century, Ceawlin is referred to as a Bretwalda. The Chronicle records his death as occurring in 593.
Recent scholars have speculated over the relationship of Ceawlin with the Saxon tribe called the Gewissæ, whom Bede located in the upper Thames region near Dorchester-on-Thames. He may have been a member of their ruling dynasty; the surviving genealogies of the Wessex royal line all have contradictions, and scholars suspect that these have been altered to support the claims of descent by later rulers.
A fact that has also drawn much comment is the gap of a generation or two between the first Bretwalda Ælle and Ceawlin. This has been cited as supporting Gildas' claim that for over 40 years after the battle of Mons Badonicus the British lived in peace and were secure from major predations from the Anglo-Saxon invaders. And if we ignore the raids of Ceredic and his sons in the areas of present-day southern Hampshire and Wiltshire, and acknowledge that the Angles in Bernicia were confined to a single stronghold by the British, this makes sense.

Ceol 591 to 597 Ceol of Wessex, also known as Ceola or Ceolric, was King of Wessex (591 or 592-597). The son of Cutha and grandson of Cynric of Wessex, he succeeded his uncle Ceawlin by defeating him in battle at Wanborough, Wiltshire. Ceawlin died in 593, making Ceol's throne more secure.Ceol was succeeded by his brother Ceolwulf. Ceol's son Cynegils later took the throne.

Ceolwulf 597 to 611 Ceolwulf of Wessex (died 611) was King of Wessex (597-611). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that he was constantly at war, his best recorded exploit being a battle with the Kingdom of Sussex in 607. The brother of Ceol, son of Cutha and grandson of Cynric of Wessex, he was succeeded by his nephew Cynegils.

Cynegils 611 to 643 see King Cynegils

Cwichelm c.626 to 636 Cwichelm (died circa 636) was an Anglo-Saxon king of the Gewisse, a people in the upper Thames area who later created the kingdom of Wessex. He is usually counted among the Kings of Wessex. He is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 614: "This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at Bampton, and slew two thousand and forty-six of the Welsh." Bede records that the attempted assassination of King Edwin of Deira, c. 626, was ordered by the West Saxon King Cwichelm, and does not mention 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 is likely that Penda was the victor.
The last mention of Cwichelm is for 636, when the Chronicle records: "This year King Cwichelm was baptized at Dorchester, and died the same year." Cynegils was also baptised at this time, by Bishop Birinus, with Oswald of Bernicia was his godfather. The final entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle concerning Cwichelm, in 648, states: "This year Cenwalh gave his relation Cuthred three thousand hides of land by Ashdown. Cuthred was the son of Cwichelm, Cwichelm of Cynegils." Cuthred may have been a sub-king under Cynegils and Cenwalh.
The evidence that Cwichelm was king of the Gewisse is unassailable, but the question of his ancestry and relationship to Cynegils, if any, is much less certain.

Cenwalh 643 to 645 see King Cenwalh

Mercian Dynasty

Penda 645 to 648 See King Penda

The Kingdom of the West Saxons

Cuthwulf fl. 571 Cutha (Cuthwulf) was born in 600 in Wessex. His father was Cuthine of Wessex. His paternal grandfather was Ceawlin, king of Wessex. He was an only child. He married and had one son, Ceolwald.

Cerdic Dynasty

Cenwalh 648 to 674 reigned jointly with his wife Queen Seaxburh 672 to 674 see King Cenwalh

Queen Seaxburh 672 to 674 Reigned jointly with her husband Cenwalh until his death 674
Seaxburh was a wife of King Cenwalh of Wessex and according to tradition, ruled Wessex as Queen for a year following Cenwalh's death. Seaxburh was not Cenwalh's first wife. He had previously been married to a sister of King Penda of Mercia. The date at which they married is unknown, and no children of their marriage are recorded, although it may be that Seaxburh ruled as regent for an unknown son, a practice well-attested in the Frankish Empire where Queens such as Brunhilde and Fredegund wielded power on behalf of sons and grandsons.
By 675, it appears that she had been replaced, as a certain Æscwine led the West Saxons successfully against Wulfhere of Mercia in that year.

Cenfus 674 to 674 West Saxon tradition has Cenwalh succeeded as ruler for one year by his wife Seaxburh, after which Æscwine appears. Another source claims that Æscwine's father, Cenfus, ruled for two years after Seaxburh.

Aescwine 674 to 676 Æscwine (died circa 676) was a King of Wessex, but probably not the only king in Wessex at the time. Bede writes that after the death of King Cenwalh: "his under-­rulers took upon them the kingdom of the people, and dividing it among themselves, held it ten years". West Saxon tradition has Cenwalh succeeded as ruler for one year by his wife Seaxburh, after which Æscwine appears. Another source claims that Æscwine's father, Cenfus, ruled for two years after Seaxburh.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle places Æscwine's reign as beginning circa 674. The entry supplies a genealogy, making him a fifth-generation descendant of Cynric. Bede's dismissal of Æscwine as a mere sub-king may represent the views of the supporters of the King Ine, whose family ruled Wessex in Bede's time.
In 675, Æscwine defeated an invasion of Wessex led by the Mercian King Wulfhere at Biedanheafde, a location which has not been certainly identified. Æscwine was succeeded by Centwine.

Centwine 676 to 685 Deposed by Caedwalla Centwine (died after 685) was King of Wessex from circa 676 to 685 or 686, although he was perhaps not the only king of the West Saxons at the time.The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Centwine became king circa 676, succeeding Æscwine. Bede states that after the death of King Cenwalh: "his under-­rulers took upon them the kingdom of the people, and dividing it among themselves, held it ten years".
An entry under 682 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "Centwine drove the Britons to the sea". This is the only event recorded in his reign. The Carmina Ecclesiastica of Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne (d. 709), written a generation after Centwine's reign, records that he won three great battles. In addition, it states that he was a pagan for part of his reign, adopting Christianity and becoming a patron of the church. The Chronicle's version of his ancestry makes Centwine a son of King Cynegils, and thus a brother of King Cenwalh, but Aldhelm does not record any such relationship.
Chapter 40 of Eddius Stephanus's Life of Wilfrid records that Centwine was married to a sister of Queen Iurminburh, second wife of King Ecgfrith of Northumbria. Her name is not reliably recorded, and the suggestion that she is to be identified with Dunna, Abbess of Withington, is broadly rejected. Their daughter Bugga was certainly a nun when Aldhelm dedicated verses to her, and was probably an Abbess.
Centwine is reported to have abdicated and become a monk. He was succeeded by Caedwalla. The date of his death is unknown.

Caedwalla 685 to 688 Usurper; abdicated see King Caedwalla

Ine 688 to 726 Abdicated see King Ine

Aethelheard 726 to 740 Aethelheard (died 740) (Means roughly 'Noble Stern'), also spelled Ethelheard or Æþelheard, was King of Wessex from 726 to 740. There is a questionable record of Aethelheard having been the brother-in-law of his predecessor, Ine, but his ancestry is unknown.
When Ine abdicated and went to Rome in 726, he left behind no obvious heir. In the wake of his departure, the West Saxon throne was disputed between Aethelheard and a rival claimant, Oswald. Oswald may have had the better claim, as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls him a descendant of the early king Ceawlin, but it was Aethelheard who prevailed. It is possible that his success was due to the support of Ethelbald of Mercia, since he seems to have been subject to Ethelbald afterward. However, Aethelheard's lack of independence does not seem to have prevented Ethelbald from taking considerable territory from Wessex in 733, including the royal manor of Somerton.

Cuthred (Cuþræd) 740 to 756 (died 756) was the monarch of Wessex from 740 (739 according to Simeon of Durham, 741 according to John of Worcester) until 756. He succeeded Aethelheard, his relative and possibly his brother.Cuthred inherited the kingdom while Mercia was at its peak. The two kingdoms often fought, but it appears that Aethelbald of Mercia was Wessex's overlord, and that he compelled Cuthred to join him in fighting the Welsh in 743.
Cuthred's reign was a troubled time. In 748, Cuthred's aetheling Cynric, possibly his son, was killed (according to Henry of Huntingdon in a mutiny), while in 750 the ealdorman Æthelhun led an unsuccessful rebellion.
In 752, Cuthred led a successful rebellion against Aethelbald at Battle Edge in Burford and secured independence from Mercia for the rest of his reign. He is also said to have fought the Cornish in 753.

Sigeberht 756 to 757 Deposed (and killed?) by Cynewulf. Sigeberht of Wessex (Sigeberht means roughly 'Magnificent Victory') was the monarch of Wessex from 756 to 757.
Sigeberht succeeded his distant relative Cuthred, but was then accused of acting unjustly. He was removed from power by a council of nobles, but given control of Hampshire. There, he was accused of murder, driven out and ultimately killed. It is possible that this happened under the influence of Æthelbald of Mercia. His brother Cyneheard was also driven out, but returned in 786 to kill Sigeberht's successor Cynewulf.

Cynewulf 757 to 786 Assassinated by Cyneheard, brother of Sigeberht. Cynewulf of Wessex (died 786) (Means 'Royal Wolf') was the king of Wessex from 757 until his death.
Cynewulf became king after his predecessor, Sigeberht, was deposed. He may have come to power under the influence of Æthelbald of Mercia, since he was recorded as a witness to a charter of Æthelbald shortly thereafter. It was not long before Æthelbald was assassinated, however, and Mercia fell into a brief period of disorder as rival claimants to its throne fought. Cynewulf took the opportunity to assert the independence of Wessex: in about 758, he took Berkshire from the Mercians. Cynewulf was also often at war with the Welsh.
In 779, Cynewulf was defeated by Offa of Mercia at the Battle of Bensington, and Offa then retook Berkshire, and perhaps also London. Despite this defeat, there is no evidence to suggest Cynewulf subsequently became subject to Offa (as his successor, Beorhtric, was).
In 786 Cynewulf was surprised and killed, with all his thanes (AS "thegns") present, at 'Merantune' (now 'Marten', a hamlet in the county of Wiltshire (see Grafton)) , by Cyneheard, brother of the deposed Sigeberht. Some historians have speculated that the relation of this in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle may be an application of a traditional story and not accurate in its details.

Beorhtric 786 to 802 (died 802) (means 'Magnificent ruler') was the King of Wessex from 786 until his death. In 786, Cynewulf, king of Wessex, was killed by the exiled noble Cyneheard, brother of the former King Sigeberht. Beorhtric was supported by Offa, king of the Mercians against Egbert. It is not entirely clear why Offa intervened in Beorhtric's favor, though it seems likely that the opportunity to influence West Saxon politics, and thus preserve the Mercian Ascendancy were important factors. Additionally, it is suggested that Egbert was a descendant of the Kentish dynasty that, under Eahlmund, had rebelled against Offa's rule and beaten him at the battle of Otford.
To an extent, Beorhtric seems to have been subject to Offa's authority. In 787, he held the Synod of Chelsea jointly with Offa, and in 789 he married one of Offa's daughters, Eadburh. Land that had traditionally been on the borders of Mercian and Wessex were administered by the Mercian court, as is seen in Charters of Offa, and his son Ecgfrith. West Saxons seem to have used Offa's currency: a recent survey of early medieval single coin finds reveals a trail of Offa pennies running from the Upper Thames to Wareham, a site connected with Beorhtric. In 1854 a coin from his reign was found 2 miles ouside of Andover. It weighed 22 grains and is extremely rare.
It was during Beorhtric's reign that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the first Viking raids on England occurred. In 789, they landed on the Dorset coast, near the Isle of Portland, where they killed a royal official, the shire reeve.
After Offa's death in 796, Mercian power over England was weakened, and Beorhtric may have exercised more independence during this period. The only two West Saxon coins to have survived from Beorhtric's reign were produced at this time, suggesting that he had established a new mint. Within a few years Offa's successor, Coenwulf, had restored Mercia's position, and after 799, Beorhtric's relationship with the Mercians seems to have been largely similar to the situation before Offa's death.
In later years Asser, a scholar at Alfred the Great's court, recorded the story that Beorhtric had died from being accidentally poisoned by his wife, Eadburh. She fled to a nunnery in Francia, from which she was later ejected after being found with a man. The provenance of this story is dubious.

Egbert 802 to 839 King of Wessex 802–839, King of Kent 825–839, Kiing of Essex 825–839, King of Sussex 825–839, King of Mercia 829–830, King of England (Not proclaimed) 829–830 see King Egbert

Ethelwulf 839 to 856 see King Ethelwulf

Ethelbald 856 to 860 King Ethelbald of Wessex or Æþelbald (Means roughly 'Noble Bold') was the second son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in about 831 or 834. He became King of Wessex in 856 after forcing his father to abdicate. (His elder brother Athelstan had already died.) He was crowned at Kingston upon Thames and married his widowed stepmother, Judith. The marriage was annulled on the grounds of consanguinity. He died in 860 and was buried at Sherborne in Dorset.

Ethelbert 860 to 865 King Ethelbert or Æþelberht of Wessex (Means Magnificent Noble) was the third son of Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in around 835 AD. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbald of Wessex, as King of Wessex in 860, but died without issue in about 865. Like his father and brother he was also crowned at Kingston upon Thames. His reign saw a Danish plundering of Kent and raids in Northumbria, both led by Ragnar Lodbrok. They had also penetrated as far as Winchester in Ethelbert's early reign. He was buried at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset.
He was also King of Kent and issued charters under the style of King of the West Saxons and the Kentishmen

Ethelred 865 to 871 King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. 837 – April 23, 871) was the fourth son of Ethelwulf of Wessex. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert of Wessex, as King of Wessex and Kent in 865. He had two sons, Aethelwold being the elder and Aethelhelm being the younger. Ethelred I was not able to control the increasing Danish raids which devastated England. On January 4, 871 at the Battle of Reading, Ethelred suffered a crushing defeat, although he did hand the Danes a Pyrrhic victory. Soon after, however, Ethelred was able to re-form his army in time to win a stunning victory at Ashdown. However, he suffered another defeat on January 22 at the Battle of Basing and was killed at the Battle of Merton on April 23, 871
Ethelred is buried at Wimborne in Dorset. Following his death, he was popularly regarded as a saint, but never canonised. He was succeeded by his brother, King Alfred the Great.

Ælfred the Great 871 to 899 The only English monarch to be given the nickname "The Great" First King of the Anglo Saxons. See King Alfred

Edward the Elder 899 to 924 Died 17th July 924
Edward the Elder (Old English: Ēadweard se Ieldra) (c.874-877 – 17 July 924) was King of England (899 – 924). He was the son of Alfred the Great (Ælfrēd se Grēata) and Alfred's wife, Ealhswith, and became King of Wessex upon his father's death in 899. See King Edward

Ælfweard 924 to 924 Second son of Edward the Elder, Died August 2nd 924, possibly before coronation.
Ælfweard (died 2 August 924) was the second known son of Edward the Elder. He succeeded his father as King of Wessex while his older half-brother Athelstan inherited Mercia. Ælfweard, who was probably never crowned, died soon after his father at Oxford.Ælfweard may have been succeeded in Wessex by his younger brother Edwin (or Eadwine) as Athelstan was not crowned king of Wessex until 4 September 925.

Athelstan 925 to 927 Athelstan or Æþelstān (c. 895 – October 27, 939), called the Glorious, was the King of England from 924 to 939. He was the son of King Edward the Elder, and nephew of Ethelfleda (Æthelflæd) of Mercia. His reign is frequently overlooked, with much focus going to Alfred the Great before him, and Edgar after. However, his reign was of fundamental importance to political developments in the 10th century. see King Athelstan

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