Aescwine of Wessex

Aescwine was a King in Wessex from about 674 to 676. He was one of several underkings in Wessex at the time.

Aescwine
King of Wessex
Reign	674–676
Predecessor	Seaxburh
Successor	Centwine
Died	after 676
Father	Cenfus

King in Wessex

Aescwine was the son of Cenfus, who also ruled Wessex as a subking.^[1] They both claimed descent from Cynric through his son Ceolwulf.^{[lower-alpha 1][1]} After the death of Cenwalh the underkings took over Wessex and ruled it for about ten years.^[4] According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Cenwalh was succeeded as ruler by his wife Seaxburh.^[5] She ruled for about one year trying to hold central control over Wessex.^[1] In 675, Aescwine defeated Wulfhere over territory north of the Thames.^[6] Aescwine reigned from about 674 to 676.^[1] He was succeeded by Centwine.

Notes

1. Not to be confused with Cynric's grandson Ceolwulf who ruled from 597 to 611.^[2] This Ceolwulf did not reign.^[3]

References

1. Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), p. 306
2. Barbara Yorke, Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 135
3. G. H. Wheeler, 'The Genealogy of the Early West Saxon Kings', The English Historical Review, Vol. 36, No. 142 (Apr., 1921), p. 167
4. Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, trans. Leo Sherley Price, revsd. R. E. Latham (London; New York: Penguin, 1990), pp. 223-24
5. Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (New york: Carroll & Graf, 1999), pp. 305-06
6. D. P. Kirby, The Earliest English Kings (London; New York: Routledge, 2000), p. 52

Other websites

• Britannia: Kings of Wessex Archived 2013-07-27 at the Wayback Machine