Natanleod facts for kids

Natanleod was a king of the Britons. We know about him from an old book called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. However, many historians believe his story might have been made up. It seems his name was used to explain the name of a place. This is called folk etymology.

Who Was Natanleod?

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us about Natanleod. It says that in the year 508, two Anglo-Saxon leaders, Cerdic and Cynric, fought against him. They reportedly killed King Natanleod and 5,000 of his men.

The Battle of 508

After this battle, the land was supposedly named Natanleaga. This name meant "Natanleod's land." The Chronicle says this land stretched as far as "Cerdic's ford." Today, Cerdic's ford is thought to be Charford in Hampshire, England. The area called Natanleaga is now known as Netley Marsh. This is a marshy (wet) area near the town of Totton in Hampshire.

Where Did the Name Come From?

Even though the Chronicle links Natanleaga to King Natanleod, historians think differently. They believe the name Natanleaga probably comes from an Old English word. This word is naet, which means "wet." So, Netley Marsh was likely named for being a wet area, not after a king.

A Story, Not a Fact?

Natanleod might not have been a real person. He could be an invented character in the Chronicle. This was a common way to explain place names long ago. Other examples include Wihtgar, a king of the Jutes, and Port, who was said to be the reason Portsmouth got its name. These stories are similar to old Irish tales called dindshenchas. These tales also explained how places got their names.

In the 1700s and 1800s, some people thought Natanleod might be the same person as Ambrosius Aurelianus. He was another important British leader from that time. But famous historian Edward Gibbon was doubtful about this idea. He wrote that it was a "doubtful conjecture" (a guess that might not be true).