Ceol of Wessex

Who was Ceol of Wessex?

Ceol was King of Wessex from 592 to 597.

He was the son of Cutha, the son of Cynric of Wessex. He reigned from either 591 or 592 to 597. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he began his reign in 591, but it was only in the following year that he drove out his uncle Ceawlin in a battle at Woden's Barrow in Wiltshire, thus denying the throne to the rightful heir, Ceawlin's son Cuthwine. Upon his death the throne passed to his brother Ceolwulf, because his son Cynegils was presumably too young to inherit the throne, so it was given to the brother, as was probably the custom among the Saxons. In 1967 Wright and Jackson found at Wroxeter a stone in a Sub-Roman context with the inscription CUNORIX MACUS MAQVI COLINE, which translates as "Cunorix son of Maqui-Coline, both of which are regarded as Irish personal names. It is possible that Maqui Coline is linked to Coel, suggesting a rival family to that of Ceawlin.