West Saxon territory in the 680s Cædwalla of Wessex



the kingdoms of britain in late 7th century.


in late 7th century, west saxons occupied area in west of southern england, though exact boundaries difficult define. west native british kingdom of dumnonia, in devon , cornwall. north mercians, king, wulfhere, had dominated southern england during reign. in 674 succeeded brother, Æthelred, less militarily active wulfhere had been along frontier wessex, though west saxons did not recover territorial gains wulfhere had made. southeast kingdom of south saxons, in sussex; , east east saxons, controlled london.


not locations named in chronicle can identified, apparent west saxons fighting in north somerset, south gloucestershire, , north wiltshire, against both british , mercian opposition. west , south, evidence of extent of west saxon influence provided fact cenwalh, reigned 642 673, remembered first saxon patron of sherborne abbey, in dorset; similarly, centwine (676–685) first saxon patron of glastonbury, in somerset. evidently these monasteries in west saxon territory then. exeter, west, in devon, under west saxon control 680, since boniface educated there @ time.








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