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| Ruled: | 757-786 | |
| Predecessor: | Siegberht | |
| Date of Birth: | unknown | |
| Place of Birth: | Wessex, England | |
| Wife: | unknown | |
| Buried: | Winchester | |
| Date of Death: | 785 | |
| Parents: | unknown |
Cynewulf of Wessex (died 785) was a king of Wessex from 757-785.
Cynewulf may have come to power under the influence of Ęthelbald of Mercia, but after Ęthelbald was assasinated, Cynewulf won independence for Wessex and took Berkshire for his kingdom in about 758. In 779 Offa of Mercia defeated him at the Battle of Bensington and retook Berkshire, and perhaps also London. This forced Cynewulf to recognise Offa's overlordship. Cynewulf was also often at war with the Welsh.
In 785 Cynewulf was surprised and killed, with all his thegns present, at Marten, Wiltshire (Merantune), by Cyneheard, brother of the deposed Sigeberht. Some historians have speculated that the relation of this in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle may be an application of a traditional story and not accurate in its details.
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Preceded by: Sigeberht |
List of monarchs of Wessex |
Succeeded by: Beorhtric |