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{{Short description|King of Wessex from 611 to 642}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{infobox royalty
| name         = Cynegils
| image        = Kengils - John Speed.JPG
| caption      = A portrait of Cynegils at his theatre in a 17th-century [[Heptarchy]] map by [[John Speed]]
| succession   = [[King of Wessex]]
| reign        = c. 611&nbsp;– c. 642<ref>{{PASE|18249|Cynegils 1}}</ref>
| predecessor  = [[Ceolwulf of Wessex|Ceolwulf]]
| successor    = [[Cenwalh]]
| house        = [[House of Wessex|Wessex]]
| death_date   = {{circa|642}}
| issue        = [[Cenwalh]]<br />Kyneburga (Cyneburg)?
| burial_place = [[Winchester Cathedral]]
}}

[[Image:Britain peoples circa 600.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of British peoples c. 600]]

'''Cynegils''' ({{IPA|ang|ˈkynejiɫs}}) was King of [[Wessex]] from c. 611 to c. 642. Cynegils is traditionally considered to have been [[King of Wessex]], even though the kingdoms of the [[Heptarchy]] had not yet formed from the patchwork of smaller kingdoms in his lifetime.<ref>The [[Kingdom of Kent]] may have been the exception. S.E. Kelly, "Kent, Kingdom of", in M. Lapidge et al. (eds), ''The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England''; D.P. Kirby, ''The Earliest English Kings'', p. 30ff.; Ann Williams, ''Kingship and Government in Pre-Conquest England, c.500–1066'', p. 5ff.; Barbara Yorke, ''Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England'', p. 25ff.</ref> The later kingdom of [[Wessex]] was centred on the counties of [[Hampshire]], [[Dorset]], [[Somerset]] and [[Wiltshire]] but the evidence of the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' is that the kingdom of Cynegils was located on the upper [[River Thames]], extending into northern Wiltshire and Somerset, southern [[Gloucestershire]] and [[Oxfordshire]], and western [[Berkshire]], with [[Dorchester-on-Thames]] as one of the major royal sites. This region, probably connected to the early tribal grouping known as the [[Gewisse]], a term used by [[Bede]] for the West Saxons, lay on the frontier between the later kingdoms of Wessex and [[Mercia]].<ref>Kirby, p. 48ff.; Yorke, pp. 135–137; Barbara Yorke, "Gewisse", in M. Lapidge et al.; Barbara Yorke, "Wessex", in M. Lapidge et al., in M. Lapidge et al.</ref>

As for several other members of the ruling house of Wessex (including [[Cerdic]], [[Ceawlin]] and [[Caedwalla]]) a Celtic, rather than Germanic, etymology for Cynegils's name has been suggested, with the literal meaning of 'grey dog'.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=Alice |title=Buried: An alternative history of the first millennium in Britain |date=2022-05-26 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-3985-1004-3 |location=[[London]] |pages=253 |language=en}}</ref>

== Genealogy ==
It appears that Cynegils became king on the death of King [[Ceolwulf of Wessex|Ceolwulf]] c. 611. His relationship with Ceolwulf is uncertain. Cynegils is variously described in West Saxon sources as being a son of Ceolwulf, a son of [[Ceol of Wessex|Ceol]] brother of Ceolwulf, a son of Ceola son of Cutha, a son of Cuthwine son of Ceawlin, and a son of Cuthwulf son of Cuthwine. Several of the sources give Cynegils a brother named Ceolwald, described as the grandfather of King [[Ine of Wessex|Ine]].<ref>Kirby, appendix, figure 4; see also Yorke, pp. 133–134.</ref> Although the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' and Wessex king lists portray the West Saxons as ruled by a single king, the kingship was likely shared between two or more kings.<ref>Kirby, pp. 48–49.</ref>

The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' for the year 611 states: "This year Cynegils succeeded to the government in Wessex, and held it one and thirty winters. Cynegils was the son of Ceol, Ceol of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric."<ref>For a [[prosopography]] of Cynegils in the sources, see {{PASE|2424|Cynegils 1|cw=1| |accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> Contradicting this simple account, the entry under 614 states that "This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at ''Beandun'',<ref>Possibly Bindon near [[Axmouth]] in [[Devon]], see Morris, J. (1995) The Age of Arthur {{ISBN|1-84212-477-3}} p.307. Beandun has also been identified with [[Bampton, Oxfordshire]], but the evidence is lacking. See [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15913 Victoria County History of Oxfordshire: Bampton and Weald].</ref> and slew two thousand and forty-six of the [[Welsh people|Welsh]]." Likewise, [[Bede]] writes that the attempted assassination of King [[Edwin of Northumbria]] in 626 was ordered by [[Cwichelm of Wessex|Cwichelm]], king of the West Saxons.<ref>{{Cite book |last=[[Bede]] |url=http://www.heroofcamelot.com/docs/Bede-Ecclesiastical-History.pdf#page=74 |title=Ecclesiastical History of the English People |others=Transcribed by heroofcamelot.com |year=731 |pages=74 |language=en |chapter=Book 2, Chapter IX}}</ref> Whether the King Cwichelm of 614 is the same person as the king of the late 620s, and whether this person is the same as the Cwichelm who was [[baptism|baptised]], and died, c. 636, is disputed. Some historians presume Cwichelm to have been a son of Cynegils.<ref>Kirby. p. 51.</ref>

In 628, Cynegils and Cwichelm fought King [[Penda of Mercia|Penda]] at [[Cirencester]]. ''The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' could be expected to report a victory, but does not, so Penda was likely the victor.<ref>Sarah Zaluckyj, ''Mercia: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Central England'', pp. 28 and 102.</ref> Cynegils and Cwichelm appear to have been subject to [[Edwin of Northumbria]] by this time, paying an enormous tribute of a hundred thousand [[hide (unit)|hide]]s if Nick Higham's conception of the [[Tribal Hidage]]'s origins is correct.<ref>N.J. Higham, ''An English empire: Bede and the early Anglo-Saxon kings'', p. 74ff.; but see also John Blair, "Tribal Hidage", in M. Lapidge et al.</ref>

== Baptism ==
In the 630s, Bishop [[Birinus]] established himself at Dorchester, and both Cynegils and Cwichelm are said to have been baptised with King [[Oswald of Northumbria]] as their godfather. Another West Saxon king, named [[Cuthred]], who died c. 661, appears at this time. Oswald married a daughter of Cynegils at this time. Her name is not recorded in early sources, but [[Reginald of Durham]] calls her Kyneburga (Cyneburg).<ref>Kirby, pp. 51 and 53.</ref> This mission appears to have made a little long-term impact as Cynegils's son [[Cenwalh of Wessex|Cenwalh]] was not baptised until 646, according to ''The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,'' after having been driven from his kingdom by Penda.<ref>Yorke, p. 136.</ref>

== Death ==
[[File:Winchestercathedralburialchestkyngils.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Mortuary chest at [[Winchester Cathedral]] which purportedly held Cynegils's remains. It contains the bones of several individuals as the bones from it and other mortuary chests were scattered during the [[English Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web |date=4 July 2019 |title=Unlocking the secrets of the Winchester Cathedral mortuary chests |url=https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-winchester-cathedral-mortuary-chests.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613073226/https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-winchester-cathedral-mortuary-chests.htm |archive-date=13 June 2021 |website=[[Current Archaeology]]}}</ref>]]

The date of Cynegils's death is not certainly known. Bede states only that he was followed by his son Cenwalh.<ref>{{Cite book |last=[[Bede]] |url=http://www.heroofcamelot.com/docs/Bede-Ecclesiastical-History.pdf#page=104 |title=Ecclesiastical History of the English People |others=Transcribed by heroofcamelot.com |year=731 |pages=104 |language=en |chapter=Book 3, Chapter VII}}</ref> Different versions of ''The'' ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' give 641 (manuscripts B, C and E) or 643 (manuscripts A, G) for the year of Cenwalh's accession. Many texts follow Dumville (1985), assuming that these variations both represent scribal deviations from 642, which would conform with the stated reign length of 31 years.<ref>[[David Dumville|D.N. Dumville]]  (1985), "The West Saxon Genealogical Regnal List and the Chronology of Early Wessex", ''Peritia'' '''4''' 21–66 {{doi|10.1484/J.Peri.3.96}}, p. 40; similarly E. B. Pryde and D. E. Greenway (1996), ''Handbook of British Chronology'', revised 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, p.22; ''PASE'' s.v. "Cynegils 1"; Barbara Yorke (2004), "Cynegils" and "Cenwalh", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''</ref>

== Children ==
As well as Cenwalh, and the daughter who married Oswald, Cynegils is said to have had a son named Cwichelm, who may or may not be the same person as the king associated with Cynegils. It is said that King [[Centwine of Wessex|Centwine]] was a son of Cynegils, but there is strong circumstantial evidence that this identification was a later invention.<ref>Kirby, p. 53, noting that [[Aldhelm]] fails to mention Cynegils, which would be expected, as the first convert King of the West Saxons, if he were the grandfather of Abbess Bugga, daughter of Centwine, to whom the poem in question was addressed.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[House of Wessex family tree]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{EB1911 poster|Cynegils}}
* {{PASE|18249|Cynegils 1}}
* [https://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/cynegils.html Royal Berkshire History: Cynegils, King of Wessex (Died AD 643)]

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{succession box|
 before=[[Ceolwulf of Wessex|Ceolwulf]]|
 title=[[List of monarchs of Wessex|King of Wessex]]|
 years=611–642|
 after=[[Cenwalh of Wessex|Cenwalh]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Kings of Wessex}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cynegils Of Wessex}}
[[Category:West Saxon monarchs]]
[[Category:640s deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Winchester Cathedral]]
[[Category:7th-century English monarchs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:House of Wessex]]