British and Irish History

The Oxford Companion to British History A Dictionary of British History Further reading

Ceawlin

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | Copyright

Ceawlin (d. c.593), king of the West Saxons (560–91). Ceawlin, who began to reign in 560, fought against the Britons to extend Saxon power. At the battle of Dyrham in 577 he is reported to have defeated three kings and to have taken Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath, thus effectively separating Britons in the south-west from those north of the Bristol channel. In 584 he may have suffered a set-back at Fethanleag, possibly near Bicester (Oxon.) for despite taking towns and booty, he is said to have returned home in anger. Ceawlin's final days are not easy to establish. Dissatisfaction may have produced another king or subking, Ceol, in 591, and in 592, after a defeat at Wodnesbeorh (near Alton Priors in the vale of Pewsey), Ceawlin was expelled. He ‘perished’ the following year. Though the end of his reign was disastrous, he played an important role in Saxon expansion and Bede lists him as the second great overlord, or bretwalda.

Audrey MacDonald

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JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Ceawlin.html

JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Ceawlin.html

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Ceawlin

A Dictionary of British History | 2004 | | Copyright

Ceawlin (d. c.593), king of the West Saxons (560–91). Ceawlin, who began to reign in 560, fought against the Britons. At the battle of Dyrham in 577 he is reported to have defeated three kings and to have taken Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath, thus separating Britons in the south‐west from those north of the Bristol channel. Dissatisfaction may have produced another king or subking, Ceol, in 591, and in 592, after a defeat at Wodnesbeorh, Ceawlin was expelled. He ‘perished’ the following year. Bede listed him as the second bretwalda.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Ceawlin.html

JOHN CANNON. "Ceawlin." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Ceawlin.html

Learn more about citation styles

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