Creoda (? died approx. 534) is a shadowy figure from early

Wessex la, Regnum Occidentalium Saxonum , conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons , common_name = Wessex , image_map = Southern British Isles 9th century.svg , map_caption = S ...

history whose existence is disputed.

Introduction

The name Creoda appears in the Genealogical Regnal List that serves as preface to some manuscripts of the ''

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' is a collection of annals in Old English, chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the ''Chronicle'' was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of A ...

'', where he is stated to have been the son of Cerdic and father to

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, who is considered the founder of the kingdom of Wessex. However, the 'Genealogi ...

. However, the main annalistic section of the ''Chronicle'' omits any mention of Creoda, and describe Cynric as the son of Cerdic. Similar contradiction occurs in surviving copies of the now-lost ''The Life of King Alfred'', which

Asser Asser (; ; died 909) was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his ...

commenced with a paternal ancestry of

Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who bo ...

that includes the name Creoda between Cerdic and Cynric, but the following section relating Alfred's maternal ancestry calls Cynric the son of Cerdic. If he existed, he may have ruled

Wessex la, Regnum Occidentalium Saxonum , conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons , common_name = Wessex , image_map = Southern British Isles 9th century.svg , map_caption = S ...

for a short period of time immediately after Cerdic's death.

Conflicting theories

If the historical existence of Creoda is admitted, there are a number of theories as to his identity and why he appears in some primary sources, but not others. # His inclusion in the genealogies was original, and his name was removed from some lists at a late date for dynastic and political reasons. # He was a contemporary of Cerdic and Cynric, but ruled the Thames Valley Saxons, while they ruled the Hampshire Saxons. He is seen as the ancestor of the later kings:

Ceawlin Ceawlin (also spelled Ceaulin and Caelin, died ''ca.'' 593) was a King of Wessex. He may have been the son of Cynric of Wessex and the grandson of Cerdic of Wessex, whom the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' represents as the leader of the first grou ...

, Caedwalla and Ine. At some late date Creoda was inserted into the Cerdicing line as the son of Cerdic, when descent from Cerdic became necessary for any king of Wessex. # Creoda has been confused with Cerdic and some of Cerdic's later activities have been misassigned in the texts, and were originally those of Creoda and Cynric.Stevenson, p.40

References

Bibliography

*Asser (trans. Giles, J.A.) (2000) ''Annals of the Reign of Alfred the Great'', In parentheses Publications: Medieval Latin Series, Cambridge, Ontario. *Kirby, D.P. (1965) "Problems of Early West Saxon History", ''The English Historical Review'', January 1965, Vol. 80, No. 314 , Oxford University Press, pp. 10-29. *Stevenson, W.H. (1899) "The Beginnings of Wessex", ''The English Historical Review'', January 1899, Vol. 14, No. 53, Oxford University Press, pp. 32-46. *Walker, H.E. (1956) "Bede and the Gewissae: The Political Evolution of the Heptarchy and Its Nomenclature", ''The Cambridge Historical Journal'', 1956, Vol. 12, No. 2 , Cambridge University Press, pp. 174-186

External links

* (Single entry for both Creoda of Wessex and Creoda of Mercia). {{DEFAULTSORT:Creoda of Wessex 493 births 530s deaths Year of birth uncertain Anglo-Saxon royalty