Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

The Magonset (Westerna / Herefordshire Saxons)

The British territory of Pengwern was conquered by Oswiu of Northumbria in 656, while he was overlord of the Mercians. Western Pengwern was then settled by Saxon groups moving up from the territory of the West Saxons and the Hwicce.

They made the most of the sudden power gap to found small kingdoms. These were based on modern Wroxeter (Roman Viroconium, which evolved into British Caer Guricon, and the new arrivals called themselves Wrocenset based on that name), and modern Kenchester, just west of Hereford in Herefordshire (Roman Magnis, probably adapted as Caer Magnis by the Romano-British and bastardised as Magon by the Saxons: Magonset means Saxons of Magon).

By the beginning of the eighth century, the Anglian Mercians had gained overall control of the territory of the Magonset and Wrocenset.

584

Shortly after the conquest of the territory that becomes the kingdom of the Hwicce, the West Seaxe forge north on a raid upon the Romano-British station at Viroconium and hold battle at Fethanleag. King Ceawlin takes his spoils back to his kingdom as the West Seaxe appear to abandon any further attempts at conquering Pengwern.

656 - c.660

Pengwern is destroyed by Mercia and Saxon groups which become the Magonset and Wrocenset move into western Pengwern, near the modern Welsh border.

c.650 - 685

Merewalh

Converted to Christianity c.660.

685 - c.700

Merchelm

Son.

fl early 700s

Mildfrith

Brother. Sub-king to Mercia.

By c.700

The Magonset and Wroconset have both become client kingdoms of Mercia, and are absorbed into it.