Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

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.

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.

fl c.661 - c.685

Æthelwalh

c.685 - c.688

Berhthun

Ealdorman.

c.685 - c.688

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

Wattus / Watt

Joint king.

fl c.700

Bryni

Ealdorman.

fl c.710

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

Oslac

Joint sub-king. Reappointed as second sub-king under Mercia.

c.765 - 772

Ealdwulf

Joint sub-king. Reappointed as the third sub-king under Mercia.

c.765 - 772

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.