PART THREE: 600-700 A.D. 

(From the accession of High King Cadwaladyr to the accession of High King Arthur III).

 

601--King Aelle II of Sussex dies, and Aethelwulf ascends the throne. Like his father, he
has converted to Christianity and on his succession he accepts the British High King as
his overlord.

602--St. Augustine of Canterbury meets with the Welsh Bishops at Aust near Chepstow.
He accuses them of acting contrary to Church teachings, failing to keep Easter at the
prescribed Roman time and not administering baptism according to the Roman rite. He
also insists that they look to Canterbury as their spiritual centre. The Welsh tactfully
decline. Augustine is proclaimed Archbishop of Canterbury and commences the erection
of his stone-built Cathedral.

604 - The Welsh Bishops meet for a second time with St. Augustine of Canterbury. He
neglects to rise to greet them, lectures them again and insists they submit to him. The
Welsh send him packing and refuse to recognise the authority of a church under such a
disrespectful bishop. Death of King Sledda of Essex. He is succeeded by his son, Saebert.
King Saebert is persuaded to convert to Christianity through the intervention of his uncle,
King Aethelbert of Kent. The See of Essex is founded. King Aethelric of Deira dies, and
Edwin ascends the throne. The joint High-Kings of Tara, Coman Rimid and Aed Slaine,
and Aed Roin, King of Ui Failgi, are assassinated.

605--Death of Bishop Augustine of Canterbury. He is buried in St. Augustine's Abbey,
Canterbury and later revered as a saint. He is succeeded by St. Laurence of Canterbury.

c. 608--Aeddan son of Gabran of Dalriada dies, ascension of his son Eochaid Find as king
may have preceeded his death.

611--King Ceolwulf of Wessex (Wight) dies. Cynegils ascends the throne.

613--The stone Abbey Church at St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury is completed and
dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.

616--Death of Kings Aethelbert of Kent and Saebert of Essex. The former is succeeded
by his pagan son, Eadbald, who promptly marries his step-mother, in accordance with
pre-Christian custom. However, before the end of the year, Eadbald is persuaded to
convert to Christianity by St. Laurence, Archbishop of Canterbury. In Essex, Saebert's
realm is divided among his sons, Sexred, Saeward and Sexbald, who also throw out the
Christian missionaries and return to paganism.

617--Joint Kings Sexred, Saeward, and Sexbald of Essex all die this year, and the
kingship of Essex falls to Sigebehrt I. Also in this year, King Raedwald of East Anglia
dies, and is succeeded by Eni.

617--King Cynegils of Wessex forges an alliance with King Eadbald of Kent and King
Sigebehrt of Essex. The allies attack King Aethelwulf of Sussex, who they regard as a
traitor because he has accepted the overlordship of the British High King, and their
combined armies defeat Aethelwulf's forces in battle. Aethelwulf and the survivors of his
force take refuge in the old Roman Saxon Shore fortress at Pevensey, where they are
besieged. However, Aethelwulf manages to get a message off to High King Cadwaladyr,
requesting assistance. Cadwaladyr arrives with the British mobile cavalry force (as well
as the armies of the kings of Dumnonina, Dobunnia, and Calchvynydd). The British raise
the siege and scatter the Saxon/Jutish allies. Cadwaladyr follows up with a punitive raid
which ravages large sections of Kent and Essex. King Eadbald of Kent and Sigebehrt of
Essex sue for peace, and a treaty is signed on Christmas Day, A.D. 617. The King of
Essex and the King of Kent both acknowledge the British High King as overlord, and
Sigebehrt of Essex converts to Christianity. Cynegils of Wessex flees back to the Isle of
Wight.

617--King Edwin of Deira invades Elmet. King Ceretic of Elmet is killed in the fighting,
and Elmet is ravaged. The Dux Brittaniarum (King Cynan of Gododdin) rallies the
northern British armies, and invades Deira. However, the northern British armies are
defeated by Edwin at Eborac (York) and forced to retreat, with King Cynan being killed
in the battle. Deira absorbs Elmet.

618-619--King Cynegils of Wessex (Wight) makes repeated incursions into Dwrn
Gwarae and Caer Gwinntguic, burning, looting, and plundering. High King Cadwaladyr
is kept busy campaigning against these raiders, and as a result is unable to intervene in the
events transpiring in the north of the kingdom, or at least not immediately. Finally, in the
autumn of the year A.D. 619, Cadwaladyr manages to catch Cynegils and his Saxon
raiders before they can flee to their ships. Cynegils is killed, and most of his army is
slaughtered. Wessex (Wight) experiences a period of civil war as various members of the
royal family try to take the kingship, and will not be a problem for several years.

618-619--With the British northern armies in disarray following the defeat at Eborac,
Edwin follows up with campaigns against Gododdin, Strathclyde, and Rheged, taking
land from all three kingdoms. However, he is unable to decisively defeat any of them as
he earlier did with Elmet. Finally, in 620, he invades and over-runs the High King's
province of Eborac. Deira is now the largest kingdom on the island.

618--King Eni of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Eorpwald.

619--Death of St. Laurence of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Mellitus.

 

620-625--In response to the aggression of King Edwin, High King Cadwaladyr decides to
eliminate the threat posed by Deira. Accordingly, he has taken several actions. First, he
has appointed King Neithon of Strathclyde as the new Dux Brittaniarum, and ordered him
to reorganize the northern British armies. Second, Cadwaladyr himself leads the mobile
cavalry force northward. Third, he calls on his vassals, the kings of East Anglia, Middle
Anglia and Lindsay to send troops to join the British armies, which they do. In repeated
campaigns over the next several years, the combined armies invade Edwin's realm from
the north and the south, forcing Edwin back into the interior of Deira. In the final
campaign (A.D. 625), the armies converge on Edwin's capital of Eborac (York). Edwin is
heavily outnumbered, and retreats to his citadel, where he is besieged and eventually
forced to surrender. In contrast to former practice, High King Cadwaladyr shows mercy
to his defeated foe, offering him the choice of converting to Christianity and accepting the
British High King as overlord, or exile. Edwin chooses exile, and flees to the court of
King Eadbald of Kent. Part of the conquered Deiran territory is given to the Kings of
Strathclyde, Gododdin and Rheged, while High King Cadwaladyr takes Elmet and a part
of the old kingdom of Eborac for his own. Angles living in these areas are given the
same option given to King Edwin...convert to Christianity and accept the British High
King as overlord, or leave. Most convert and stay, while the rest go with King Edwin
into exile. The Kingdom of Deira (now much much reduced in size) is given to Sigebert,
brother of King Eorpwald of East Anglia, who accepts High King Cadwaladyr as
overlord.

624--Death of Archbishop Mellitus of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Justus.

625-700--Period of relative peace and prosperity in Britannia. High Kings Cadwaladyr,
Hywel, Rhodri, and Arthur III, following the example of their illustrious ancestor, Arthur
I, use this period to rebuild and strengthen their kingdom. Areas ravaged by the recent
wars are resettled, many towns are re-occupied, and new towns founded. Also during this
time, dynastic marriages will merge the small kingdoms in what is, in OTL, Wales. By
the end of the period only Dyfed, Powys, Gwynedd and Pengwern will remain. High King
Cadwaladyr will sign new treaties with all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except Wessex
(Wight) in the years immediately following his victory over Deira which will make them
permanent vassals of the British High King, who will now have the right to approve or
disapprove the succession in each kingdom.

626--King Edwin, the exiled ruler of Deira, is converted to Christianity by St. Justus at
the court of King Eadbald of Kent.

627--A son is born to Crown Prince Hywel. The boy is named Rhodri ap Hywel of the
House of Ambrosius. Death of Archbishop Justus of Canterbury. He is succeeded by
Honorius. In Ireland, King Failbe Fland of Cashel defeats Guaire Aidni of Connacht at
the Battle of Carn Feradaid.

628--King Eorpwald of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Ricbert. Pope Honorius
addresses the Irish over the Easter Controversy.  Also in this year, Biscop Baducing, son of an Anglish refugee 

who went into exile with King Edwin of Deira to live in Kent, is born outside Canterbury.

 

630-631--Southern Ireland conforms to Roman church practices at the Synod of Mag
Lene but sends a mission to Rome over the Easter calculations the following year.

631--King Ricbert of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Egric.

633--Edwin, former king of Deira, dies in Kent. Faelan mac Colman becomes King of
Leinster; he is an ancestor of the Ui Dunalige dynasty.

634--King Sigebert of Deira dies childless. With the approval of High King Cadwaladyr,
Osric, kinsman of the defeated King Edwin and senior surviving member of the Deiran
royal house, is permitted to take the throne. However, Osric dies later that same year, and
is succeeded by his son Oswine. Both Osric and Oswine have converted to Christianity in
Kent, and they both swear allegiance to the British High King as overlord as a condition
of being allowed to return to the throne of Deira.

635--King Egric of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Anna (nephew of Raedwald).

637--High King Domnall mac Aedo of the Ui Neill defeated a combined army from the
Ulaid and Dalriada at the Battle of Mag Rath. Congal Cloe, King of Ulster and rival for
the Kingship of Tara is killed, Domnall Brecc of Dalriada escapes.

640--High King Cadwaladyr invites Archbishop Honorius to visit him at his court, and
Honorius accepts. They discuss the religious divisions on the island (the Roman Church
vs. the British Church vs. pagan and Pelagian remnants) and agree that something must
be done to resolve them. High King Cadwaladyr agrees to call a Synod for the following
year to discuss these issues. Also in this year, Pope-elect John IV writes to the Irish about
the Easter Controversy and Pelagianism. Also in this year, the King of Middle Anglia dies
without heirs. The closest male claimant is King Biscop of Lindsay, and the two
kingdoms are joined. Also in this year, King Eadbald of Kent dies, and is succeeded by
Earconbert.

641--At the behest of High King Cadwaladyr, the Synod of Durocobrivis is held at the
capitol of the Kingdom of Calchvynydd. Archbishop Honorius of Canterbury confronts
the assembled Bishops of the British Celtic Church, as well as a delegation from the Irish
monastery at Iona. High King Cadwaladyr listens to the arguments of all sides, and makes
a decision that satisfies nobody completely. He agrees that the British church should
adopt the Roman method of calculating the date of Easter and the Roman method of
Baptism, bringing the British Church into line with the practice of most of Christendom.
Furthermore, the British church will accept the nominal overlordship of the Pope in
Rome. However, he rules that the British Church will not accept the overlordship of the
Archbishop of Canterbury. Honorius is not happy, but is glad to have the concessions
regarding procedural matters, and grudgingly accepts the compromise.

642 -King Owen of Strathclyde halts Scottish expansion by killing King Domnal Brecc of
Dalriada at the Battle of Strathcarron. Also in this year, King Aethelwulf of Sussex dies,
and is succeeded by his son Ecgbert. Domnall mac Aedo 'King of Ireland' dies.

643--Cenwalh, son of Cynegils of Wessex, finally wins the struggle for power over
Wessex (Wight) and is crowned king.

c.645 - Gwynedd and much of Wales is in the grasp of famine. King Biscop of Lindsay
dies, and he is succeeded by his son, who rules as King Bede.

649--Diarmait mac Aedo Slaine was defeated by Guaire Aidni, King of Connacht at the
Battle of Carn Conaill.

650--Crown Prince Rhodri is married to a fair maiden named Hildegard, the only child
and heiress of King Bede of Lindsay.

651--High King Cadwaladyr dies. Crown Prince Hywel ascends the throne. Prince
Rhodri is installed as King of Gwynedd. King Oswine of Deira dies childless later that
same year. There being no remaining male heirs of the House of Deira, the kingdom is
given by High King Hywel to Aethelhere, brother of King Anna of East Anglia.

653--King Sigebehrt I of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sigebehrt II.  Biscop Baducing travels to Rome to pursue a 

career in the church. He shortly thereafter enters a monastery at Lerins, in the south of France. While there, he adopts the
name of Benedict.

654--King Anna of East Anglia dies and is succeeded by his brother, Aethelwold.

655--Death of Archbishop Honorius of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Deusdedit. Also
in this year, a son is born to Crown Prince Rhodri. The new prince is named Arthur ap
Rhodri of the House of Ambrosius.

655-664 - Plague devastates Gwynedd.

660--High King Hywel dies, and is succeeded by Crown Prince Rhodri. The new Crown
Prince Arthur is installed as King of Gwynedd. Also in this year, King Sigebehrt II of
Essex dies, and is succeeded by Swithhelm.

664--King Aethelwold of East Anglia dies. He is succeeded by Ealdwulf. Also in this
year, King Earconbert of Kent dies, and is succeeded by Ecgbert.

664-668--A Great Plague in Ireland and Britain.

665--King Swithhelm of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sebbi. Also in this year, King
Ecgbert of Sussex dies and is succeeded by Walda.

669-690--Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury.

669--Benedict Biscop Baducing travels with Theodore of Tarsus to Canterbury.

670--King Bede of Lindsay dies. High King Rhodri inherits the kingdom, which
becomes a personal land of the High King. King Aethehere of Deira dies. He is
succeeded by his son, Beorna. As did his father before him, he swears allegiance to the
British High King as overlord.

c. 670-690--Irish primacy is established at Armagh and the first works on St. Patrick are
written.

 

671-672--Benedict Biscop Baducing travels to Rome again. He returns to Canterbury
with a large collection of relics, holy pictures, and books.

672--Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury writes to High King Rhodri, protesting against
the irregular practices of the Celtic church in Britannia, which have persisted despite the
ruling of High King Cadwaladyr at the Synod of Durocobrivis in 641. Rhodri calls the
Synod of Caerfawydd (OTL Hereford), in the Kingdom of Caer Gloui, where Archbishop
Theodore confronts the British Bishops and demands their adherence to the agreement
reached at the Synod of Durocobrivis. The British Bishops flatly refuse these demands,
and unlike his father, High King Rhodri declines to intervene and issue a summary ruling.
Both sides angrily storm out of the meeting, and an effective schism is thus made
between the Roman and British churches from that day forward.

672-688--Cenwalh of Wessex (Wight) dies childless in A.D. 672. Another struggle for
power ensues between his queen, Seaxburh, and various male descendants of previous
kings Ceolwulf and Caewlin and Cyengils. The struggle will go on until A.D. 688, and
will bring to power, in succession....Seaxburh (672-674); Cenfus, (line of Ceolwulf, 674);
Aescwine (son of Cenfus, 674-676); Centwine (son of Cynegils, 676-685); and Caedwalla
(line of Ceawlin, 685-688).

673--King Ecgbert of Kent dies, and is succeeded by Hlothere.  Benedict Biscop Baducing travels to his ancestral homeland of Deira,  where he persuades King Beorna of Deira to convert to the Roman form of Christianity. Beorna grants Benedict land near the Deiran capital of Malton (formerly Caer Deywr, the former Roman town of Derventio, which had served as capital of the British sub-kingdom of Deywr before it was overthrown by the Angles in 559) to build a monastery, and the churchman uses his collection of relics, holy pictures, and books to found the monastic
library.  He names the monastery St. Paul’s.

675-695--The Baile Chuind, the first king list of Tara, is composed during the reign of
Finsnechtae Fledach.

 

675--Crown Prince Arthur marries Princess Rhiannon, beautiful daughter of King Cadfan
of Dyfed.

 

678--A daughter is born to Crown Prince Arthur. She is named Isolde. Her mother,
Crown Princess Rhiannon, however, dies in childbirth. Crown Prince Arthur is
devastated by her death, and despite urging from his advisors and family, will never
remarry. The loss of his beloved wife also causes Arthur to turn ever more to a religious
pursuits. He therefore, unlike his predecessors, will not serve a term as Commander of the
mobile cavalry force prior to assuming the High Kingship, and he will show little interest
in military affairs during his subsequent reign as High King.

683-685--Plague ravages Ireland for three years.

685-690--King Hlothere of Kent dies in A.D. 685. Kent experiences a brief period of
civil war while various claimants to the throne vie for control.

685--King Walda of Sussex dies and is succeeded by Berhthun.

688--King Caedwalla of Wessex (Wight) dies. He is succeeded by Ine, who will rule
over a relatively peaceful kingdom until A.D. 726.

690--Wihtraed ascends the throne of Kent, ending the period of civil war and
re-establishing the dynasty of Hengest on the throne. Also in this year, Ine of Wessex
(Wight) is converted to Christianity by a British monk named Cynan, who is acting as
ambassador at Ine's court from High King Rhodri. Ine also accepts the British High King
as overlord following his conversion. All Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in Britannia are now
Christian, and vassals of the British High King.  Also in this year, Princess Isolde, the twelve-year-old daughter of 

Crown Prince Arthur, dies during an outbreak of plague in Caer Camulod. Crown Prince Arthur is left without a direct heir.
The next in line to the High Kingship, after Arthur, are the descendants of Arthur’s younger brother, Custennin (“Constantius”).

695--King Sebbi of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sigeheard.

 

697--The Kingdoms of the Northern and Southern Picts are united by King Brude mac
Derelei. Brude begins raiding the kingdoms of Strathclyde and Gododdin shortly
thereafter. The High King, Rhodri, is by now an old man, and does little in response, nor
does his son, Arthur, who is a man of little military experience or inclination. Instead, the
defense of northern Britannia is left to the Dux Brittaniarum, King Dogfael of
Strathclyde. Dogfael does a capable job in this capacity, and the Picts are usually repelled
with great loss when they venture over the borders of Britannia.

698--Death of High King Rhodri. Crown Prince Arthur succeeds to the throne as Arthur
III. In Ireland, dynastic conflicts in the Airgialla lead to the battle of Telech Garraisc in
Fernmag (Co. Monaghan). King Conchobar Machae of the Airthir and King Aed Airdd of
the Dal nAraidi are killed.

698-700--Three years of famine and plague in Ireland, rumors of cannibalism spread.

699--Cattle plague in Britain which spreads to Ireland at Tethbae in 700.