Ceolwulf of Wessex

Ceolwulf (29 May 561 – 26 March 611) was the King of Wessex from 567 to his death. The second son of Cutha, the son of Cynric, Ceolwulf succeeded his older brother Ceol in October 597. As Ceol's son, Cynegils, was too young to rule when he became king, Ceolwulf took the throne to maintain stability and security in the kingdom, as young kings were then considered very weak.

When Ceolwulf ascended to the throne, the majority of the kingdom, mainly Middlesex, was very decentralised. Although he contimued to have little power in Middlesex, he implemented policies that centralised power and made the kingdom more powerful than before.

He also fought the Britons, the Celts and the Picts, but there is a lack of evidence that the Saxon Army went up north as far as modern-day Scotland. However, there was allegedly a conflict in Chester when it was not yet under Anglo-Saxon control. In 607, Ceolwulf lost Middlesex to Mercia after a year-long conflict and also fought a battle against Sussex with an unknown outcome.

In March 611, Ceolwulf died of dysentery and was succeeded by his nephew, Cynegils. He was buried at Winchester Cathedral three days later. His reign was largely successfulm as he re-established hegemony in the kingdom and saved it from the brink. He was also seen as a powerful warrior and fought huge battles.

Ceolwulf was born on 5 March 561 in Winchester, Wessex. He was the son of Cutha, the son of Cynric, the grandson of Cerdic and the younger brother of Ceawlin. Ceolwulf was also the younger brother of his predecessor, Ceol. Not much was known in Ceolwulf's early life, but it is known that he grew up in Winchester and lived in the castle since he was then part of the royal family.

On 5 June 597, Ceol died from poisoning. Since his son, Cynegils, was too young to rule, Ceolwulf became king instead. He was crowned five days later.

On 15 April 611, Ceolwulf travelled to Wales for a nine-day trip. On the third day of his trip, Ceolwulf was assassinated. The rest of the trip was cancelled. Ceolwulf returned to Wessex, where he died just four days later since the wound had become increasingly infected. He was succeeded by Cynegils, the son of his older brother, Ceol. Ceolwulf was buried three days later in a secret and private valut under the castle.

Britannia: Kings of Wessex Archived 2013-07-27 at the Wayback Machine