At the beginning of his reign most of southern England was under Anglo-Saxon control. The lands of Wessex really began to expand when Cerdic and Cynric’s successor Ceawlin, who reigned from 560 to 592, won a number of victories. King Penda of Mercia: Militant Heathen or Visionary Statesman?.The Question of Ancient Kings: Cerdic of Wessex, First Saxon King of England?.However, most of Cynric’s time was spent trying to control the resistance he faced from native Britons and trying to consolidate the lands he already held. Cerdic and Cynric began a conquest of the Isle of Wight in 530 and the latter fought battles at Salisbury (552) and Barbury Castle, Wiltshire, in 556. It was believed it was located on the upper Thames and the people there probably moved there from the northeast.ĭuring these early days, there was little pursuit of expansion. The other settlement was discovered through archaeological evidence. They arrived in Hampshire in 494 or 495 and were crowned kings in 500 or 519. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the first was founded by Cerdic and his son (or grandson) Cynric. It is believed that the Kingdom of Wessex began from two settlements. One of the most influential kings of this kingdom was Alfred the Great, whose legacy led to the formation of England. The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex was the first formation of the modern idea of England, and in its early years it faced threats not only from the neighboring kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria, but also from the Danes, or the Vikings as they would become known. The early history of England was characterized by instability, disorder and uncertainty.
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