Kenwal

Also known as: Cenwal / Cenwall · Family: West-Saxons · Role: king · First appears: A.D. 449–556

Kenwal, also called Cenwal, was the son of Cynegils and was married to Sexburga. In 645, recorded also under 658, Penda drove him from his dominion and deprived him of his kingdom; the 658 account says this was because Kenwal had discarded Penda’s sister. In 648 he gave his relation Cuthred son of Cwichelm three thousand hides of land by Ashdown.

In 658 Kenwal fought the Welsh at Pen and pursued them to the Parret. In 660 Egelbert departed from him, and in 661 Kenwal fought at Pontesbury, where Wulfhere, son of Penda, pursued him as far as Ashdown. Kenwal died in 672, and Sexburga held the government for one year after him.

Relationship record

Life events

• Penda drove Kenwal into exile and deprived him of his kingdom.(A.D. 656–660 · 📍 East-Anglia)
  • With: Penda
  • “Penda had driven him thither and deprived him of his kingdom, because he had discarded his sister.”
• 645 · Penda drove Kenwal from his dominion.(A.D. 626–655)
  • With: Penda
  • “This year King Kenwal was driven from his dominion by King Penda.”
• 658 · Kenwal fought with the Welsh and pursued them to the Parret.(A.D. 656–660 · 📍 Pen)
  • “This year Kenwal fought with the Welsh at Pen, and pursued them to the Parret.”
• 660 · Bishop Egelbert departed from Kenwal.(A.D. 656–660)
  • With: Egelbert
  • “This year Bishop Egelbert departed from Kenwal”
• 661 · Kenwal fought at Pontesbury, and Wulfere pursued him as far as Ashdown.(A.D. 661–684 · 📍 Pontesbury)
  • With: Wulfhere
  • “at Easter, Kenwal fought at Pontesbury; and Wulfere, the son of Penda, pursued him as far as Ashdown.”
• 672 · Cenwal died, and Sexburga held the government for one year after him.(A.D. 661–684)
  • With: Sexburga
  • “This year died King Cenwal; and Sexburga his queen held the government one year after him.”

A.D. 449–556

• parent: Cynegils “Then succeeded Cenwall, who was the son of Cynegils,”
• married with Sexburga “Then held Sexburga, his queen, the government one year after him.”

A.D. 626–655

• parent: Cynegils “He was the son of Cynegils.”
• enemies with Penda “King Kenwal was driven from his dominion by King Penda.”
• cousins with Cuthred son of Cwichelm “Kenwal gave his relation Cuthred three thousand hides of land by Ashdown.”
• protégé: Cuthred son of Cwichelm “This year Kenwal gave his relation Cuthred three thousand hides of land by Ashdown.”

A.D. 656–660

• enemies with Penda “Penda had driven him thither and deprived him of his kingdom, because he had discarded his sister.”
• with Egelbert (interaction) “Bishop Egelbert departed from Kenwal;”

A.D. 661–684

• enemies with Wulfhere “Kenwal fought at Pontesbury; and Wulfere, the son of Penda, pursued him as far as Ashdown.”
• married with Sexburga “This year died King Cenwal; and Sexburga his queen held the government one year after him.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Made with Rho MD.