Wessex.

Wessex. In 514 a swarm of Saxons, called Gewissas, landed on the shores of Southampton Water, and were soon reinforced by a band of Jutes, with whom they coalesced under their king, Cerdic (519-34), becoming known as the West Saxons. They quickly overran the modern Hampshire, and Wight, and the next king, Cynric (534-60), seized Salisbury Plain, and forced his way to the Thames, only to find his progress eastward barred by the Middle Saxons. Ceawlin (560-92) pushed back the Jutes of Kent, then turned northwards, seizing the valleys of the Thames and Cherwell, next the Severn, and in 583 destroyed the old Roman station of Uriconium. But farther progress northwards was checked by the defeat at Faddiley and by long internal dissensions. Next Mercia took their possessions north of the Thames and the Somersetshire Avon. In 635 Wessex accepted Christianity, next under Cenweall (643-72) it extended its western border from the Axe to the Parret, under Ine (688-726) beyond the Parret, and under Cuthred (741-54) it threw off the Mercian yoke. Offa in 779 again pushed them to the Thames, but they now turned westwards and made themselves masters of Devon. From this time their influence constantly grew until in Egbert, under whom they reached to the Tamar, they rose to the lordship of the other kingdoms and states, and began the history of England. See EGBERT, and ENGLAND.