The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons is an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southwest England, from the 6th century until the emergence of a unified English state in the 10th century.The Anglo-Saxons believed that Wessex was founded by Cerdic and Cynric, but it is possible that this account is a legend.
The two main sources for the kings of Wessex are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the West Saxon Genealogical Regnal List, which conflict and cannot be fully reconciled.
After Cenwealh is baptized, Wessex becomes a Christian kingdom.
His conversion may have been connected with an alliance against Penda of Mercia, who had attacked Wessex and forced him into temporary exile.
During Cenwealh's rule the territory of the West Saxons is expanded.
A later king, Cædwalla, conquers Sussex, Kent and the Isle of Wight.
His successor, Ine, issues one of the oldest surviving English codes of laws and establishes a second West Saxon bishopric.
After Ine, the throne then passes to a series of kings with unknown genealogies.During the 8th century, as the hegemony of Mercia grows, the kings of Wessex are largely able to maintain their independence.
It is during this period that the West Saxon system of shires is established.
The fortunes of the kingdom are transformed when Egbert conquers part of Dumnonia, seizes control of Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Essex, conquers Mercia and secures the overlordship of the Northumbrian king, although Mercian independence is restored in 830.
During the reign of his successor Æthelwulf, a Danish army arrives in the Thames estuary but is decisively defeated.
When Æthelwulf's son Æthelbald ascends to the throne, the kingdom is divided to avoid bloodshed.
Æthelwulf is succeeded in turn by his four sons, the youngest being Alfred the Great.When Wessex is invaded by the Danes in 871, Alfred is compelled to pay them to leave the kingdom.
They return in 876, but are then made to withdraw.
In 878, they force Alfred to seek refuge in the Somerset Levels, but are eventually defeated at the Battle of Edington.
During his reign Alfred issues a new law code, gathers scholars to his court and is able to devote funds in building ships, organizing an army and establishing a system of burhs.
His son Edward captures the eastern Midlands and East Anglia from the Danes and becomes ruler of Mercia in 918 upon the death of Æthelflæd, his sister.
After Edward's son Athelstan conquers Northumbria in 927, England becomes a unified kingdom for the first time.
Cnut the Great, who conquers England in 1016, creates the wealthy and powerful earldom of Wessex, but in 1066 Harold II reunites the earldom with the crown and Wessex then ceases to be a political unit.
