Reign 534–560 Role King Name Cynric Wessex House House of Wessex | Parents Cerdic of Wessex Died 560 AD | |
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Issue CeawlinCutha or Cuthwulf Children Ceawlin of Wessex, Ceol of Wessex Grandchildren Cynegils of Wessex, Cuthwine of Wessex Great grandchildren Cedda, Cutha Cathwulf, Centwine of Wessex, Cenwalh of Wessex, Cwichelm of Wessex | ||
King arthur cynric
Cynric was King of Wessex from 534 to 560. Everything known about him comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. There he is stated to have been the son of Cerdic, and also (in the regnal list in the preface) to have been the son of Cerdic's son, Creoda. During his reign it is said that the Saxons expanded into Wiltshire against strong resistance and captured Searobyrig or Old Sarum, near Salisbury, in 552. In 556 he and his son Ceawlin won a battle against the Britons at Beranburh, now identified as Barbury Castle. If these dates are accurate, then it is unlikely that the earlier entries in the Chronicle, starting with his arrival in Britain with his father Cerdic in 495, are correct. David Dumville has suggested that his true regnal dates are 554-581.
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Etymology
The name Cynric has a straightforward Old English etymology meaning "Kin-ruler."
In popular culture
In the 2004 film King Arthur, Cerdic and Cynric were depicted as Saxon invaders, and were killed, respectively, by King Arthur and Lancelot at the Battle of Badon Hill (Mons Badonicus). Cynric was portrayed by Til Schweiger.