Watt of Sussex facts for kids
Watt was a king who lived a long time ago in a place that is now called Sussex in southern England. We know about him from old documents called charters. These documents show that he was a king during the time of another king named Noðhelm. In these old papers, Watt was called Wattus Rex, which means King Watt.
Watt probably ruled between the years 692 AD and 725 AD. Some people think he might have been the king of a group of people called the Hæstingas.
How We Know About King Watt
Old documents from the Kingdom of Sussex give us clues about kings who ruled there. These documents, called Anglo-Saxon charters, suggest there might have been two different royal families in Sussex at the time.
King Noðhelm (sometimes called Nunna) ruled Sussex in the late 600s and early 700s. His charters often mention another king named Watt.
- In 692, Watt signed a charter from King Noðhelm. This document didn't say exactly which area Watt ruled.
- Watt also signed another charter as Wattus rex. In this document, a leader named Bruny (or Bryni) gave four hides of land to Eadberht, who was the abbot of Selsey. A "hide" was a way to measure land back then. We know Eadberht became a bishop around 705, so this document must have been created in 705 or a little before. Both Watt and Nunna are listed as witnesses on this charter.
- Watt is also mentioned as a witness (as Uuattus rex) on another charter. This document is mistakenly dated to 775. Historians believe it might be a copy made much later, or perhaps not a real document.
Was Watt King of the Hæstingas?
A historian named C.T. Chevalier has an interesting idea. He thinks that King Watt might have ruled the Hæstingas tribe. This tribe lived around the area we now call Hastings in East Sussex.
Chevalier noticed that place names like Watt or What are only found in the Hastings area of Sussex. This makes his idea seem possible to other historians.
Chevalier also thought the Hæstingas tribe might have originally come from France. However, other historians don't agree with this part of his idea. They believe it's based on a misunderstanding of the old place names.
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