Cerdic of Wessex
Cerdic (/ˈtʃɜːrdɪtʃ/ CHER-ditch;[4] Latin: Cerdicus) is described in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a leader of the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, being the founder and first king of Wessex, reigning from around 519 to 534 AD. Subsequent kings of Wessex were each claimed by the Chronicle to descend in some manner from Cerdic.[5] His origin, ethnicity, and even his very existence have been extensively disputed. However, though claimed as the founder of Wessex by later West Saxon kings, he would have been known to contemporaries as king of the Gewissae, a folk or tribal group. The first king of the Gewissae to call himself 'King of the West Saxons', was Cædwalla, in a charter of 686.[6]
For two British kings with a similar name, see Ceretic (disambiguation).Etymology[edit]
The name Ċerdiċ is thought by most scholars to be Brittonic – a form of the name Ceretic – rather than Germanic in origin.[7] According to the Brittonic origin hypothesis, Ċerdiċ is derived from the British name *Caratīcos or Corotīcos.[8][9][10][11][12] This may indicate that Cerdic was a native Briton, and that his dynasty became Anglicised over time.[13][14] This view is supported by the potentially non-Germanic names of some of his descendants including Ceawlin, Cedda and Cædwalla.[12][15][16][17]