Wuffa of East Anglia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wuffa |
|
|---|---|
An imaginary depiction of Wuffa, from John Speed's Saxon Heptarchy (1611)
|
|
| King of the East Angles | |
| Reign | 6th century |
| Predecessor | Wehha |
| Successor | Tytila |
| House | Wuffingas |
| Father | Wehha |
| Religion | Anglo-Saxon Paganism |
Wuffa (also known as Uffa) was an early king of East Anglia. He is mentioned in old Anglo-Saxon family records. If he was a real person, he would have lived in the 500s.
People traditionally say Wuffa was the son of Wehha and the father of Tytila. However, we are not completely sure if Wuffa was a real historical figure. The name Wuffa gave its name to the Wuffingas dynasty. This was the royal family that ruled the East Angles until the year 749.
Some historians, like Bede, thought Wuffa was the first king of the East Angles. But another writer, who wrote the Historia Brittonum about a hundred years later, named Wehha as the first ruler instead.
Contents
What was the Kingdom of East Anglia?
The Kingdom of the East Angles was an independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom that lasted for a long time. It was formed after people moved to what is now southeast Suffolk. These people came from an area now called Jutland.
Historians believe that different groups of people arrived in Norfolk and Suffolk. They came from various parts of the coast and rivers around the 400s and 500s.
Where was East Anglia located?
The Kingdom of the East Angles was surrounded by the North Sea to the north and east. To the south, there were thick forests. On its western side, there were marshy areas called the Fens.
The main land route into East Anglia was a narrow path. This path was part of an ancient road called the Icknield Way.
Who was Wuffa's family?
.png)
According to old East Anglian family records, Wuffa was the son of Wehha. He was also the father of Tytila. His name, Wuffa, means 'wolf' in Old English.
The royal family, the Wuffingas, got their name from him. 'Wuffingas' literally means 'the family of Wuffa'. Some people think Wuffa and his family might have come from a Germanic tribe called the Warni.
When did Wuffa rule?
A writer from the 1200s, Roger of Wendover, said Wuffa ruled from 571 to 578. However, we don't know where he got this information. Historian Michael Wood suggests that Wuffa ruled the East Angles around the year 575.
Historian Bede said Wuffa was the grandfather of Rædwald. He also said that the East Anglian kings were called Wuffingas because of Wuffa. But another old book, the Historia Brittonum, disagrees. It names someone called Guillem Guercha as the first king.
Was Wuffa the first king?
The Historia Brittonum lists a long family line. It says:
- Woden had Casser.
- Casser had Titinon.
- Titinon had Trigil.
- Trigil had Rodmunt.
- Rodmunt had Rippa.
- Rippa had Guillem Guercha, who was the first king of the East Angles.
- Guercha had Uffa.
- Uffa had Tytillus.
- Tytillus had Eni.
- Eni had Edric.
- Edric had Aldwulf.
- Aldwulf had Elric.
Some historians have been confused by the name 'Guillem Guercha'. But D. P. Kirby believes that the writer meant Wehha, not Wuffa, was the earliest Wuffingas king.
Because there isn't much written evidence, historians aren't sure if Wuffa was a real person or just a legend. We can't know for sure who the first East Anglian king was. Historian Martin Carver thinks Wuffa is "best seen as a symbolic figure from the royal family's origin story."
It is thought that Wuffa founded the village of Ufford in Suffolk. The name Ufford means "Uffa's Ford" (a shallow place in a river where you can cross). Later East Anglian kings said they had the right to rule because they were related to Wuffa. This was similar to how the kings of Kent claimed to be related to Oisc.
Wuffa's Family Tree
The descendants of Wehha
| Wehha | |||||||||||||||||
| Wuffa | |||||||||||||||||
| Tytila | |||||||||||||||||
| Rædwald | Eni | ||||||||||||||||
- You can find a more complete family tree at Wuffingas.
