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The Suth Seaxe (South Saxons / Sussex)
Three entries in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle associate the transition
from Roman to Saxon authority of the south coast of England with the exploits
of a chieftain named Ælle.
The entries are evidently derived from a lost saga recalling the more
memorable events in a career of conquest that, however short-lived, made Ælle
the first Bretwalda
of the Anglo-Saxons.
In AD 477, a Saxon group under the leadership of Ælle traditionally
landed at Cymensora or Cumenesora (a location probably
represented by the Owers Banks, off the low-lying Selsey peninsula and
now submerged beneath the sea), and beat off the defending Britons there.
These Saxons then settled around the area of Selsey Bill (between Kent
and Portsmouth on the south coast), and were isolated by The Weald from
the British territories that still operated to the north (although only
for a short time, as the Saxons of the
Suther-ge were already making
inroads along the Thames).
The South Saxons were probably major players in the defeat of
Mons Badonicus
(circa 496), with Ælle quite reasonably leading the attacking forces as Bretwalda. Such
is Ælle's authority from the moment he arrived that it is possible he was a
recognised person of authority from the European homelands. However, the
defeat may have lost him his kingdom, either immediately or soon afterwards,
as no further mention is made of it and no Saxon burials are found there for
another century. Whatever their political situation, the South Saxons who
remained in the area were isolated until the kingdom's re-emergence in the
mid-seventh century.
A separate band, known as the Hæstingas, settled around what later became
Hastings. Little is known about them, but although they eventually become
subject to the authority of the South Saxons, their identity remained a
strong one well into the eleventh century. Other South Saxon elements may
have drifted west to join Jutish groups in forming the original
West Seaxe who were subjugated by the
Gewissae under Cerdic from 495.
(Information on late sub-kings of Sussex by David Slaughter.) |
477 - ?514 |
Ælle |
First
Bretwalda. |
477 |
The Suth Seaxe under Ælle and his sons, Cymen, Wlencing, and Cissa, land at
Cymens ora and beat off the Britons who oppose their landing (part of the
proposed British kingdom of
Rhegin),
driving them to take refuge in the great forest called Andredesleag (The
Weald). |
485 |
The Suth Seaxe defeat the Britons at Mearcraedes burna (modern location unknown).
The name of the location has been plausibly interpreted to mean 'the stream
of the agreed frontier'. It may therefore relate to a boundary based on one
of the river valleys which serve to divide the Sussex coastal plain and its
hinterland into naturally self-contained sections. There is, however, no
means of knowing which valley was so called in early Saxon times, but it
seems to suggest a temporary frontier between Briton and Saxon. |
491 |
The British fort of Anderita (Saxon Andredesceaster, modern Pevensey
in East Sussex) is attacked and conquered by Ælle and Cissa and its entire garrison is
slaughtered by the Suth Seaxe in what must have been a desperate fight. This
seems to end any British opposition in the region.
Noviomagus (Regnum), the possible capital of the proposed British kingdom of
Rhegin (situated on the western border of the newly founded Saxon territory),
is left highly vulnerable by this loss. It seems that it is partially
destroyed during the completion of Ælle's conquest of the area (and probably
falls to the Suth Seaxe,
or at least becomes tributary to them). |
c.496 |
Probable date of
the battle of Mons
Badonicus, in which Ælle, as Bretwalda, attacks the Britons in the region of
Bath. His force is defeated by the Britons. The Suth Seaxe must have suffered heavy
casualties as they are so weakened that they now drift into obscurity for around 150
years. British Rhegin
quite possibly reasserts its independence, although an event in 501 recorded
in the annals of the West Seaxe probably
signals its final end.
Ælle's route was probably northwards towards the
Thames Valley to build up his
forces from the large numbers of Saxons there, and then westwards along the
upper Thames Valley until he emerged through the Goring Gap. It seems
creditable to assume that the north-facing Wansdyke, constructed in the
fifth or sixth centuries, was put up by British forces in Wiltshire in the
face of just such a threat of Saxons breaking through from the Thames
Valley. It could either have been constructed to ward off this very attack
(and perhaps channel the attackers towards Badon), or in response to it, to
ensure that no future attacks of this nature could take place. In that it
was very effective, until the West Seaxe
conquered the heart of Wiltshire in 552. |
514? - 567 |
Cissa? |
Son. |
after 523? - 563 |
|
?Wine |
Co-ruling ealdorman. |
c.514 - c.550 |
The rebuilding of Noviomagus is
begun by Cissa. It is renamed Cissa's Ceaster (Chichester). |
c.514 - c.600 |
Loss
of the kingdom to the Britons? The Suth Seaxe lose their prominence and
are not mentioned in any records until the middle of the seventh century.
The later 'kings' do not claim descent from any of Ælle's sons. The
possibility is that the royal family was largely destroyed and did not
survive Cissa (if he even existed). A century and a half later, other
families had risen to prominence and it is from these that the kings are
selected. Unfortunately, no authentic king list remains. Even the kings
themselves ruled in groups of three or four at a time, with power
being shared equally
and indivisibly between then. |
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607 |
The
West Seaxe
under Ceolwulf fight a campaign against the Suth Seaxe. The result is
unrecorded, suggesting either defeat for the invaders or a stalemate
unworthy of recording. |
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fl c.661 - c.685 |
Æthelwalh |
|
c.685 - c.688 |
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Berhthun |
Ealdorman. |
c.685 - c.688 |
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Andhun |
Ealdorman. |
c.686 - 726 |
The Suth Seaxe are
subjugated by the West Seaxe. |
fl 692 - 717 |
Nothelm / Nunna |
Nunna is the
shortened form of Nothelm. |
fl c.692 - c.700 |
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Wattus / Watt |
Joint king. |
fl c.700 |
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Bryni |
Ealdorman. |
fl c.710 |
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Osric? |
Joint king. |
fl c.714 - 722 |
Æthelstan |
Joint king with Nothelm. |
722 - 725 |
Ealdbert |
|
fl 725 - 758 |
Æthelbert |
|
c.758 - c.772 |
Osmund |
Deposed by
Mercia? |
c.765 - c.772 |
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Oslac |
Joint sub-king.
Reappointed as second sub-king under Mercia. |
c.765 - 772 |
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Ealdwulf |
Joint sub-king.
Reappointed as the third sub-king under Mercia. |
c.765 - 772 |
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Ælhwald / Ælfwald |
Joint sub-king. |
772 - 825 |
Sussex becomes a dependency
of Mercia and is ruled by
appointed sub-kings (who may still be relatives of the previous kings,
albeit demoted ones). |
772 - ? |
Oswald |
Sub-king appointed by Offa of Mercia. |
|
776? - after 785 |
Oslac |
Sub-king reappointed by Offa of Mercia. |
? - 791 |
Ealdwulf |
Sub-king reappointed by Offa of Mercia. |
791 - 825 |
Ruled directly from Mercia? |
825 |
Egbert of
Wessex defeats the mighty Mercians
at the Battle of Ellandon. The sub-kingdoms of
Essex, Sussex and
Suthrige submit to Egbert.
Sussex is ruled by sub-kings in Kent
who answer to the Wessex monarch. |
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