Battle of Hehil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Hehil
Date c. 721—722 Location "among the Cornish" Result British victory
Belligerents
West Britons	West Saxons (probably)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Hehil was an important fight that happened around the year 720. A group of people called the Britons won this battle. They probably fought against the Anglo-Saxons from the Kingdom of Wessex. We don't know exactly where the battle took place, but it was somewhere "among the Cornish" people. This battle was a big moment for the history of Cornwall.

Where Was the Battle of Hehil Fought?

The exact place of the Battle of Hehil is still a mystery today. Many historians and scholars have tried to figure out where it happened. In 1916, a scholar named Donald MacKinnon only said it was on "the Devonian peninsula." Later, in 2003, Christopher Snyder simply noted that the battle happened "in Cornwall."

Possible Locations in Cornwall

Some people think the battle was near Hayle in west Cornwall. This idea comes from how the name "Hehil" sounds similar to "Hayle." However, others believe it might have been near the River Camel in Cornwall. This river was once known as the Heil.

Historians like W. G. Hoskins and Philip Payton thought the battle could have been at places like Egloshayle or the Wadebridge area, both on the River Camel. These spots were important because of their location.

Other Ideas for the Battlefield

Not everyone agreed with the western Cornwall locations. Malcolm Todd suggested places further east. He thought it could be Hele at Jacobstow in north Cornwall. Another idea he had was Hele in the Culm Valley in east Devon.

More recently, in 2022, John Fletcher suggested the village of Merton in Devon. He believes this area has strong reasons to be the site of the historic Hehil battle.

Why Was the Battle of Hehil Important?

The British victory at Hehil in 722 was a very big deal for the people of West Britain. It might have helped keep Cornwall separate from the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms for a long time. After this battle, there are no records of major fights in the area for almost 100 years.

This long period of peace likely helped create a clear border between what we now know as Cornwall and Devon. Some historians, like T. M. Charles-Edwards, think the battle happened after Geraint was no longer king of Dumnonia. This victory might have helped the Kingdom of Cornwall survive for another 150 years.