The arrival of the South Saxons and West Saxons

Cymenesora

Under the year 477, the Anglo-Saxon chronicle states:

Her cuom Ęlle on Bretenlond 7 his .iii. suna, Cymen 7 Wlencing 7 Cissa, mid .iii. scipum on þa stowe þe is nemned Cymenesora, 7 þær ofslogon monige Wealas 7 sume on fleame bedrifon on þone wudu þe is genemned Andredesleage.

Here Ælle and his 3 sons, Cymen and Wlencing and Cissa, came to the land of Britain with 3 ships at the place which is named Cymen’s Shore, and there killed many Welsh and drove some to flight into the wood which is named the Weald.

jebson t.,2007. swanton m., 2000, 14. asc A.

Mawer and Stenton identified Cymenes ora, Cymen’s shore, as the Owers in Selsey, Sussex. The names Malt Owers, Middle Owers and Outer Owers are located on the Admiralty Charts off the coast of Selsey Bill. Cimen shore is also marked on a 17th c. map:

Morden R., 1695.

Cerdicesora

For the year 495 we have the entry:

Her cuomon twegen aldormen on Bretene, Cerdic 7 Cynric his sunu, mid .v. scipum in þone stede þe is gecueden Cerdicesora 7 þy ilcan dæge gefuhtun wiþ Walum.

Here two chieftains; Cerdic and Cynric his son, came to Britain with 5 ships at the place which is called Cerdic’s Shore and the same day fought against the Welsh.

jebson t.,2007. swanton m., 2000, 14. asc A.

The landing site appears in variant forms: Cerdices ora (C) Certicesora (E). Its location is proposed the Ower in Hampshire:

The Ower at Calshot.

This location, the junction of Southampton Water and the Solent, has been considered a strategic site even till today.

Calshot spit and castle. © Hamphire County Council.

The birth of Wessex

As explained in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Arthur’s death there are a number of entries in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the period late 5th to early 6th c. which have been moved backwards in time by one or two Metonic cycles:

Fictitious	Historical	Event
495, 514	533	Cerdic and his son Cynric arrive in Britain at Cerdic Shore.
500, 519	538	Cerdic and Cynric succeed to the kingdom of Wessex. Battle at Cerdic’s Ford.
501	539	Port and his sons Bieda and Mægla arrive in Britain. (Battle of Camlan)
508, 527	546	Cerdic and Cynric fight at Cerdic’s Wood. They kill king Natanleod and 5000 men. Land as far as Charford named Netley.
530	549	Cerdic and Cynric take the Isle of Wight, killing a few men at Wihtgar’s stronghold.
534	553	Cerdic dies. Cynric rules for 26 years. Isle of Wight given to nephews Stuf and Wihtgar.
544	563	Wihtgar dies and is buried at Wihtgar’s stronghold.

Dates of events in early Wessex.