Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

Ciltern Saetan (Chiltern Saxons)

The modern Chilterns is an area of land which stretches north-east from Reading in the Thames Valley to Hitchin in modern Hertfordshire. The highest points are over 250 metres and there are various water courses which cut through the Chilterns to head towards the south-east of England.

Bands of Saxon settlers, who took their name from an earlier Romano-British one for the area, arrived as Thames Valley Saxons during the late fifth century and were already forming communities by AD 500. Other Saxon groups migrated south from the Midlands and cut through British Cynwidion's western territories, isolating it entirely. The British enclave was gradually squeezed until in about AD 610-630 the British administration there collapsed. By this time the Ciltern Saetan had already carved out a territory for themselves which was centred on the modern Chilterns.

By the middle of the seventh century the Ciltern Saetan had fallen under Mercian dominance, although they may have re-established their own local rulers as sub-kings by that date.

c.440 - 500

Saxons advance along the Thames Valley, encroaching on Caer Celemion's northern border (by circa 470), and heading north into the Chilterns to encroach on the territory of Cynwidion (by circa 480-500). Other Saxon groups head southwards through the Vale of Aylesbury from the territory of the Middil Engle to cut Cynwidion off from the west.

c.560 - 592

The West Seaxe conquer the Ciltern Saetan. They now either hold the position of a client kingdom (although the West Seaxe tended not to do this), or their local rulers are removed.

592

By 592, if not before, the West Seaxe control all of the Thames Valley Saxons.

c.610 - 630

The Ciltern Saetan help to force the collapse of the British kingdom of Cynwidion.

c.670 - 675

Dida

Sub-king to Mercia.

by 670

The Ciltern Saxons had become a client kingdom of the much more powerful Mercia.