Cenwalh
Cenwalh was the son of the first Christian King of Wessex and is the subject of Part 7 in the 85-part series on the rulers of Britain, England, and the nation of West Saxons that gave rise to England.
Taking the throne after his father’s assassination in 643, Cenwalh was instrumental in allowing Christianity to fully establish itself in Wessex. This religious tolerance is quite interesting, as Cenwalh actually started his reign as a heathen. Historians have explained Cenwalh’s tolerance through two theories: the first argues that Cenwalh was a very nice man and didn’t want to offend anyone, and the second suggests that Cenwalh was terrified of his Christian father rising from the grave to haunt him if the teachings of Christ did not spread across the country. Zombies were a legitimate concern in the 7th century (they only went extinct after the invention of the television), and thus most experts lean toward the latter explanation of Cenwalh’s behavior. Regardless, by 645 Cenwalh was the only non-Christian person in his entire kingdom.
Apart from fostering Christianity while not actually following the religion, Cenwalh is noteworthy for two other reasons. His first important contribution to history came in late 645, when he was sealed in a barrel and sent on a long sea voyage. No one knows what adventures Cenwalh had after he escaped from the barrel, but legends in western Africa tell of a barrel-dwelling man who traveled from village to village solving mysteries. More significantly, Penda of Mercia strolled right into Wessex and became the new king. Penda’s reign was interesting, but will be the focus of a later bloog. In 648, however, Cenwalh returned and once again laid claim upon the throne of Wessex. Penda left peacefully, and Cenwalh became the first man in the history of Wessex to be King on more than one occasion.
Cenwalh’s journey had greatly changed him. He had converted to Christianity during his absence, and his hair had grown long and difficult to control by simple combing techniques. He wore rags and bathed only when he fell into puddles. He spoke a language unlike anything anyone had heard before. He conducted all meetings and most ceremonies in the nude. He constructed obvious, flimsy traps all across the countryside. He began supporting Manchester City Football Club. He refused to listen to the advice of those around him, named over one hundred parrots as senators in his short-lived Avian Council, and outlawed the triangle. He was regarded in some circles as the greatest king to have ever lived, but most people saw him as a lunatic who has seen too much of the sun while traveling in his barrel.
Cenwalh’s second major contribution to history came in the year 672. In this year, he was not only the first monarch in the history of Wessex to share his throne with someone else, but he was the man who paved the way for the first Queen Wessex had ever seen. After many years of insane but effective leadership, Cenwalh divided his power in half and made his wife, Seaxburh, co-ruler of the nation. When Cerwalh died in 674, his wife took over the country.
So there you have Cenwalh, the 7th and 9th ruler of Wessex, famous for getting chased away from his own country and surrendering half of his power to his wife. In Part 8 of our series, we will examine Penda, the man who ruled Wessex as an outsider for three phenomenal years.
Taking the throne after his father’s assassination in 643, Cenwalh was instrumental in allowing Christianity to fully establish itself in Wessex. This religious tolerance is quite interesting, as Cenwalh actually started his reign as a heathen. Historians have explained Cenwalh’s tolerance through two theories: the first argues that Cenwalh was a very nice man and didn’t want to offend anyone, and the second suggests that Cenwalh was terrified of his Christian father rising from the grave to haunt him if the teachings of Christ did not spread across the country. Zombies were a legitimate concern in the 7th century (they only went extinct after the invention of the television), and thus most experts lean toward the latter explanation of Cenwalh’s behavior. Regardless, by 645 Cenwalh was the only non-Christian person in his entire kingdom.
Apart from fostering Christianity while not actually following the religion, Cenwalh is noteworthy for two other reasons. His first important contribution to history came in late 645, when he was sealed in a barrel and sent on a long sea voyage. No one knows what adventures Cenwalh had after he escaped from the barrel, but legends in western Africa tell of a barrel-dwelling man who traveled from village to village solving mysteries. More significantly, Penda of Mercia strolled right into Wessex and became the new king. Penda’s reign was interesting, but will be the focus of a later bloog. In 648, however, Cenwalh returned and once again laid claim upon the throne of Wessex. Penda left peacefully, and Cenwalh became the first man in the history of Wessex to be King on more than one occasion.
Cenwalh’s journey had greatly changed him. He had converted to Christianity during his absence, and his hair had grown long and difficult to control by simple combing techniques. He wore rags and bathed only when he fell into puddles. He spoke a language unlike anything anyone had heard before. He conducted all meetings and most ceremonies in the nude. He constructed obvious, flimsy traps all across the countryside. He began supporting Manchester City Football Club. He refused to listen to the advice of those around him, named over one hundred parrots as senators in his short-lived Avian Council, and outlawed the triangle. He was regarded in some circles as the greatest king to have ever lived, but most people saw him as a lunatic who has seen too much of the sun while traveling in his barrel.
Cenwalh’s second major contribution to history came in the year 672. In this year, he was not only the first monarch in the history of Wessex to share his throne with someone else, but he was the man who paved the way for the first Queen Wessex had ever seen. After many years of insane but effective leadership, Cenwalh divided his power in half and made his wife, Seaxburh, co-ruler of the nation. When Cerwalh died in 674, his wife took over the country.
So there you have Cenwalh, the 7th and 9th ruler of Wessex, famous for getting chased away from his own country and surrendering half of his power to his wife. In Part 8 of our series, we will examine Penda, the man who ruled Wessex as an outsider for three phenomenal years.
posted by Simon at 10:29 PM
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