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Cerdic (/ ˈ tʃ ɜːr d ɪ tʃ / CHER-ditch; [4] Latin: Cerdicus) is described in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a leader of the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, being the founder and first king of Wessex, reigning from around 519 to 534 AD.
Cerdic was a Continental ealdorman who landed in Hampshire in 495 and became the first king of Wessex in 519. He fought several battles with the Britons and conquered the Isle of Wight, and his descendants ruled England for centuries.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Cerdic in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
- Cerdic as Arthur
- Cerdic as A British Earl
- The Cerdic of History
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles are manuscripts first begun in the late 9th century under the reign of Alfred the Great (l. 849-899/r. 871-899). They continued to be written, edited, and rewritten through the 12th century and record the history of Britain from 1 BCE through 1154. The problems with the reliability of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicleshave been n...
The historians John C. and Joseph W. Rudmin claim that the difficulty of reconciling the ancient sources on Cerdic with those of Arthur is easily solved once one recognizes that they were the same person. Regarding Cerdic's founding of Wessex and his subsequent rule, and the claim that Arthur ruled the same territory at the same time, they write: T...
While it is unlikely that Cerdic was Arthur, it is even less likely that he was a Saxon. Even though the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles seem to present Cerdic as a Saxon warleader, it has been noted by a number of historians besides Morris or the Rudmins (such as Professor Johann P. Sommerville of the University of Wisconsin) that "Cerdic" is a British nam...
The truth behind the original name of the kingdom, like much of Cerdic's life, may never be known and is still debated in the present day. The understanding of "accuracy" in reporting historical events was not held to the same standard in the 9th-12th centuries as it is today and, as noted above, each source seems to indicate a slightly, or signifi...
- Joshua J. Mark
Learn about Cerdic, the first king of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex, who landed in Hampshire in 495 and fought the British Celts. Discover his possible Celtic origin, his descendants, and his burial place.
Apr 5, 2022 · Learn about Cerdic, the legendary Anglo-Saxon ruler who established the kingdom of Wessex in the 6th century. Discover his origin, reign, battles, descendants and possible connection to King Arthur.
May 3, 2023 · Who was Cerdic of Wessex? Discover the fascinating story of the first king of Wessex in this five-minute guide.
Nov 23, 2018 · The Kingdom of Wessex (c. 519-927 CE or c. 519-1066 CE) was a political entity founded by the West Saxon Chieftain Cerdic (r. 519-540 CE) in 519 CE in the Upper Thames Valley of modern-day Britain which would later evolve into the modern nation.
