Ceol ( ; also known as Ceola or Ceolric) is portrayed by 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 ninth century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of ...
'' and
West Saxon Genealogical Regnal List as King of
Wessex
The Kingdom of the West Saxons, also known as the Kingdom of Wessex, was an Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, kingdom in the south of Great Britain, from around 519 until Alfred the Great declared himself as King of the Anglo-Saxons in 886.
The Anglo-Sa ...
for five to six years around 592 to 597 (the ''Chronicle'') or 588 to 594 (the List).
Historicity
David Dumville has emphasized how shaky the evidence for Ceol is. Neither the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' nor the West Saxon Genealogical Regnal List seems to be a contemporary record for the seventh century, and it is possible that Ceol was added through scribal confusion:
The monothematic name Ceol, meaning simply "ship", seems extremely implausible; in one genealogy he appears as Ceola, an apparent hypocoristic ..implying a dithematic ''Ceol''-name; while the Genealogical Regnal List declares Ceolwulf to be his brother, Cynegils is merely the 'son of Ceolwulf's brother', perhaps implying some uncertainty as to identity and family relationships.
Portrayal in the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle''
Ceol is portrayed as the son of Cutha (or Cuthwulf), the son of
Cynric of Wessex, beginning his reign in 591. The ''Chronicle'' states that the following year Ceol's uncle
Ceawlin was 'driven out' in a
battle at "Woddesbeorg", thought to be in
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
, and modern scholars have inferred that this battle was between Cealwin and Ceol,
[According to Frank Stenton, ''Anglo-Saxon England'', Oxford University Press, 3rd Edition, 1971, p. 30, the battle was fought at Woddesbeorg or Wodnesbeorg, probably the tumulus now called Adam's Grave, overlooking the Vale of Pewsey.] with Ceol denying the throne to Ceawlin's son
Cuthwine.
Upon Ceol's death in 597, the throne is said to pass to his brother
Ceolwulf. Because his son
Cynegils was presumably too young to inherit the throne, it was given to the brother, as was probably the custom among the Saxons.
The Ceolian line
Ceol is portrayed as the founding member of a sub-house of the House of Wessex which would rule Wessex from 591–645, 648–674 and from 676–685, comprising Ceol, Ceolwulf, Cynegils,
Cenwalh,
Seaxburh and
Centwine.
Coenwulf and
Ceolwulf I of Mercia are also claimed to be descendants of Ceol, meaning that the Ceolian line flourished for at least three centuries after its founder's death, and possibly longer. (See
House of Wessex family tree.)
References
External links
*
West Saxon monarchs
6th-century English monarchs
House of Wessex
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