Cynegils facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cynegils |
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A portrait of Cynegils at his theatre in a 17th-century Heptarchy map by John Speed
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| King of Wessex | |
| Reign | c. 611 – c. 642 |
| Predecessor | Ceolwulf |
| Successor | Cenwalh |
| Died | c. 642 |
| Burial | Winchester Cathedral |
| Issue | Cenwalh Kyneburga (Cyneburg)? |
| House | Wessex |
Cynegils (pronounced roughly as KYOO-neh-jils) was a very important king of the West Saxons from about 611 to 642 AD. He is often called the King of Wessex, but back then, the kingdom of Wessex wasn't quite as we know it today. Instead, there were many smaller kingdoms in what is now England. Cynegils's kingdom was mainly around the upper River Thames, in areas that are now Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire. One of his main royal towns was Dorchester-on-Thames. This area was on the border of what would later become the powerful kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia.
Contents
Cynegils's Family and Co-Rulers
Cynegils became king around 611 AD, after King Ceolwulf died. It's not completely clear how Cynegils was related to Ceolwulf. Different old records give different ideas about his father and family. Some say he was Ceolwulf's son, while others say he was a grandson or nephew of earlier kings.
It seems that kingship in those days was sometimes shared. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a very old historical record, suggests that Cynegils ruled alone. However, it also mentions another king, Cwichelm, fighting alongside Cynegils. For example, in 614, Cynegils and Cwichelm fought a big battle against the Welsh, winning a major victory. Historians believe Cwichelm might have been Cynegils's son or a co-ruler, sharing power with him.
In 628, Cynegils and Cwichelm fought against King Penda of Mercia at Cirencester. The old records don't say they won, so it's likely that Penda was the stronger ruler in that battle.
Becoming a Christian King
A very important event in Cynegils's reign was his baptism. In the 630s, a missionary named Bishop Birinus came to the area and set up his church in Dorchester. Both King Cynegils and King Cwichelm were baptized by Birinus. This was a huge step for the West Saxons, as it meant they were becoming Christian.
King Oswald of Northumbria was a powerful Christian king from the north of England. He became the godfather to Cynegils during his baptism. This was a way to show a strong alliance between their kingdoms. To make this alliance even stronger, King Oswald married one of Cynegils's daughters. Her name is thought to have been Kyneburga.
Even though Cynegils became Christian, his son Cenwalh wasn't baptized right away. Cenwalh became king after Cynegils, but he didn't become a Christian until 646 AD.
The End of His Reign
The exact year Cynegils died isn't known for sure. Different old records give slightly different dates, like 641 or 643 AD. However, many historians believe he died around 642 AD, after ruling for about 31 years. After his death, his son Cenwalh became the next King of Wessex.
His Children
Besides his son Cenwalh, who became king, Cynegils also had a daughter who married King Oswald of Northumbria. Some records also mention another son named Cwichelm, who might be the same King Cwichelm who ruled alongside Cynegils. There are also stories that King Centwine was his son, but this is less certain.
See also
