Cynewulf of Wessex

Cynewulf (died 786) was a West Saxon nobleman, a member of the West Saxon witan, and was King of Wessex from 757 until his death in 786.

 Career 

Cynewulf was a member of the West Saxon witan. He led that council in expelling Sigeberht.Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 311 Cynewulf was elected by the witan to rule Wessex in place of Sigeberht. He attested a charter at the court of King Æthelbald of Mercia. The charter was for Cynewulf to grant land to an abbot in Wiltshire. This indicates Wessex was still a dependency of Mercia.Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 204 Æthelbald died a few months later. Taking advantage of this Cynewulf took back lands he lost in Berkshire and Wiltshire. Cynewulf was occupied during much of his reign in wars against the Welsh of Dumnonia. He was never able to conqueror Cornwall however. In 779, Cynewulf was defeated by Offa of Mercia at the Battle of Bensington.Frank Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 209  and Offa then retook Berkshire, and perhaps also London. Despite this defeat, there is no evidence to suggest Cynewulf became subject to Offa (as his successor, Beorhtric was).

In 786 Cynewulf was surprised and killed by Cyneheard, the brother of the deposed king Sigeberht. The entry for the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 784 (actual date 786) was: "This year Cyneheard slew [killed] king Cenewulf, and he was there slain, and eighty-four men with him; then Beorhtric succeeded to the kingdom of the West Saxons..."Benjamin Thorpe, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle according to the Several Original Authorities: Translation (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1861), p. 47 Cynewulf had a long reign of twenty-nine years. He died leaving no heirs.Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 312

 Notes 

 References 

 Other websites 
 Cynewulf and Cyneheard , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
 Britannia: Kings of Wessex 

Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:786 deaths
Category:Kings of Wessex