Coinwalch

Family: West Saxons · Role: king · First appears: Book III · Chap. VII

After Cynegils died, Coinwalch succeeded him as king of the West Saxons. He put away Penda’s sister, whom he had married, and took another wife; war followed, and “he was by him deprived of his kingdom.” Coinwalch withdrew to Anna, king of the East Angles, living three years in banishment, where he learned and received the true faith.

Coinwalch later attached himself to Agilbert, who undertook the ministry of preaching, and desired him to remain as bishop of his people. He divided his province into two dioceses and appointed Wini to the episcopal see at Venta, called Wintancaestir by the Saxons. He then sent messengers to Agilbert in Gaul with humble apologies, entreating his return; when Agilbert did not return, Coinwalch and his people received Theodore honourably and asked him to consecrate their bishop.

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 633 · Penda deprived Coinwalch of his kingdom after war followed his repudiation of Penda's sister.(Book III · Chap. VII)
  • With: Penda
  • “whereupon a war ensuing, he was by him deprived of his kingdom, and withdrew to Anna, king of the East Angles”
• c. 633 · Coinwalch learned and received the true faith while exiled with Anna.(Book III · Chap. VII)
  • With: Anna
  • “where he lived three years in banishment, and learned and received the true faith”
• c. 633 · Coinwalch appointed Wini to an episcopal see after dividing his province.(Book III · Chap. VII · 📍 city of Venta)
  • With: Wini
  • “and dividing his province into two dioceses, appointed this last his episcopal see in the city of Venta, by the Saxons called Wintancaestir”

Book III · Chap. VII

• parent: Cynegils “When the king died, his son Coinwalch succeeded him on the throne”
• enemies with Penda “for he put away the sister of Penda, king of the Mercians, whom he had married, and took another wife; whereupon a war ensuing, he was by him deprived of his kingdom”
• with Anna (interaction) “and withdrew to Anna, king of the East Angles, where he lived three years in banishment”
• mentor: Anna “and learned and received the true faith; for the king, with whom he lived in his banishment, was a good man, and happy in a good and saintly offspring”
• mentor: Agilbert “He attached himself to the king, and voluntarily undertook the ministry of preaching.”
• liege: Agilbert “The king, observing his learning and industry, desired him to accept an episcopal see there and remain as the bishop of his people. Agilbert complied with the request, and presided over that nation as their bishop for many years.”
• liege: Wini “and dividing his province into two dioceses, appointed this last his episcopal see in the city of Venta, by the Saxons called Wintancaestir.”
• with Agilbert (interaction) “He, therefore, sent messengers into Gaul to Agilbert, with humble apologies entreating him to return to the bishopric of his nation.”
• with Theodore (interaction) “The king and the people received him honourably, and asked Theodore, then Archbishop of Canterbury, to consecrate him as their bishop.”
• with Anna (interaction) “and withdrew to Anna, king of the East Angles, where he lived three years in banishment”

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Extracted from the original text of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England. Made with Rho MD.