Cynegyth

• Preferred Name: Cynegyth ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
  
• Gender: F
  
• Death: BEF 804 with note: after 799 but before 804; witnessed a charter in 799 but husband Coenwulf was married to a 2nd wife in 804
  
• FSID: 949Q-SDZ
  
• Birth: BEF 760 with note: Was already married in 795, birth year of oldest child is identified as 775, would estimate Cynegyth was born about 760 or before; would not have been older than her husband who was born circa 750
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Cynegyth was the 1st wife of Coenwulf, King of Mercia from 796 to 821.
  
  A charter of King Coenwulf (S 156) dated 799 was witnessed by his wife Cynegyth and states "I, King Cenulf along with my wife Queen Cynegyth" In Latin she is identified as "Cenegiða regina"
  
  By 804 King Coenwulf had married a 2nd time, for charter S 159 identifies Coenwulf's wife as "Æðrið regina" Queen Ælfthryth.
  
  From these charters we know that Cynegyth married Coenwulf at some point before 799 and died before 804.
  
  The Foundation for Medieval Genealogy does not identify Cynegyth as Coenwulf's 1st wife but identifies 2 children, daughters Cwenthryth and Burgenilda, as the children of Coenwulf and his 1st wife. Stating that Cwenthryth was much older than her brother Cynehelm, as she was entrusted with her brother's education by their father. William of Malmesbury also identifies Cwenthryth as Cynehelm's older sister. However
  Roger of Wendover names "Quendridam et Burgenildam" as the daughters of "Kenulfus…et regina sua Alfritha"
  
  Cwenthryth and Burgenilda were likely born to Cynegyth and are identified as the daughters of Coenwulf and Ælfthryth not because Ælfthryth was their biological mother but because she became their stepmother.

• m. BEF 799 in Mercia, England

1. Title: Charter S 156 - Electric Sawyer
   Publication: Name: https://esawyer.lib.cam.ac.uk/charter/156.html#;
   Note: S 156 A.D. 799 (17 July). King Coenwulf and his wife Cynegyth to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 4 sulungs (aratra) at Giddinge and Wootton, Kent. Latin with bounds Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church MSS: 1. London, British Library, Cotton Augustus ii. 96 (s. xi; BM Facs., iv. 7) 2. Canterbury, D.C., Reg. A, ff. 138v-139r (s. xiii) 3. Canterbury, D.C., Reg. E, ff. 40v-41r (s. xiii ex.) 4. London, British Library, Stowe 853, f. 8r-v (s. xvii) Printed: K, 177 and vol. iii, p. 387; Thorpe, pp. 44-5; B, 296 Comments: BM Facs., iv, p. 7, MS 1 10th- or 11th-century; Robinson 1919, p. 28, untrustworthy; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 14-15, 88, on place-names; Levison 1946, pp. 230, 249 n. 3, text is unreliable and seems to be a conflation of S 1610 and 15; Wright 1950, pp. 389-90, MS 1 is a palimpsest in an 11th-century hand; Chaplais 1968, pp. 316 n. 8, 335-6, spurious, MS 1 perhaps 11th-century, discusses relationship with S 15 (= 1973, p. 64 n. 8, 86-7); Harrison 1976, p. 118; Scharer 1982, pp. 87-9, probably forged in early ninth century, discusses relationship with S 15, 160; Brooks 1984, pp. 102-3, spurious, may have been modelled on lost 7th-century charter covering same estates; Wormald 1985, p. 25, unreliable later copy, possibly genuine elements; Kelly, St Augustine's, pp. 155-7, spurious, probably modelled on S 15 + In nomine Domini Dei Saluatoris nostri Iesu Christi. Ego Cenulf rex una cum coniuge mea Cenegiða regina, referentes gratias largitori bonorum Domino Iesu Christo qui dilatauit terminos nostros iuxta paternam antiquitatem, in commune pertractauimus aliquam partem terre nobis conlate ad uicem rependere, ne ingrati Dei beneficiis uideremur largitori nostro. Qua de re a presenti die et tempore tibi pastori et familie eclesie Christi Deoque dicte terram iuris nostri, que sita est in prouintie Cantie, que quondam apellata est Geddingc et Wudutun, aratrorum .iiii., contulimus inperpetuum posidendam et cum omnibus ad eandem pertinentibus, pratis, campis, siluis, pascuis et quicquit ad supradictam terram pertinet a quattuor partibus, horientis, occidentis, aquilonis et meridie, tuo husui et familie tue et remisionem delictis nostris ditionique subiciatis, teneatis, posideatis, donetis, commutetis, uenundetis uel quicquit exinde facere uolueritis, liberam abeatis potestatem, successoresque uestri defendant inperpetuum. Numquam me eredesque mei contra hanc cartulam descriptionis nostre aliquando esse uenturos. Ad cuius cumulum etiam confirmationis cispitem uius supradicta terra super sanctam altarem saluatoris posui et propria manu pro ignorantia literarum signum sancte crucis in ac cartula expressi, set et Cenegiða idem fecit, principesque mei ut pari modo propriis manibus facerent rogaui, quorum nomina supter adnexa sunt. Si quis quod apsit contra anc cartulam a me factam ego eredes mei contraire presumserint, nouerint se a participatione corporis et sanguinis Domini Iesu Christi esse alienos et a ceto fidelium segregandos hic et in eternum. Quam sepedictam cartulam scribendam dictaui et tibi pastor cui supra tradidi conseruandam. His uero notissimis terminibus circumgirata est: in aquilone puplica stratus; in oriente ita est; in meridie terra sancta Eanswiðe; in occidente Dene tun. Actum est .xvi. kalendus Agusti, indictione .vii., anno regni nostri .iii. Signum manus Cenulfi regis. Signum manus Ðeodori episcopi. Signum manus Adriani abati. Ego Redun episcopus. Piot dux consensi. Tiolf \dux/ consensi. Cenelm filii regis. Biornhard minist\e/r. Eaheard diaconus. Metadata Translation Bounds of Wootton. In the north the public street; in the east the same. In the south the land of St Eanswith [i.e., land belonging to the minster at Folkestone]. In the west Denton. Old Text Endorsements (s. xii): 'Cenulf rex . merciorum 'tempore' Theodori archiepiscopi . gedding and Wedetun . iiii . aratra', 'Kenulfus Rex dedit gedding et Wdetun Athelardo Archiepiscopo et familie . Anno dccc o.', 'latine . iiii .' - Athelardo Archiepiscopo and the date are a later addition. + In nomine domini Dei salvatoris nostri Jhesu Christi ego Cenulf rex una cum conjuge mea Cenegi∂a regina referentes gratias largitori bonorum domino Jhesu Christo qui dilatavit terminos nostros juxta paternam antiquitatem in commune pertractavimus aliquam partem terre nobis conlate ad vicem rependere ne ingrati Dei beneficiis videremur largitori nostro qua de re a presenti die et tempore tibi pastori et familie eclesie Christi Deoque dicte terram juris nostri que sita est in provintie Cantie que quondam apellata est Geddingc 7 Wudu tun aratrorum . iiii . contulimus in perpetuum posidendam et cum omnibus ad eandem pertinentibus pratis campis silvis pascuis et quicquit ad supradictam terram pertinet a quattuor partibus horientis occidentis aquilonis et meridie tuo husui et familie tue et remisionem delictis nostris ditionique subiciatis teneatis posideatis donetis commutetis venundetis vel quicquit exinde facere volueritis liberam abeatis potestatem successoresque vestri defendant in perpetuum numquam me eredesque mei contra hanc cartulam descriptionis nostre aliquando esse venturus ad cujus cumulum etiam confirmationis cispitem ujus supradicta terra super sanctam altare salvatoris posui et propria manu pro ignorantia literarum signum sancte crucis in ac cartula expressi set et Cenegi∂a idem fecit principesque mei ut pari modo propriis manibus facerent rogavi quorum nomina supter adnexa sunt si quis quod apsit contra anc cartulam a me factam ego eredes mei contraire presumserint noverint se a participatione corporis et sanguinis domini Jhesu Christi esse alienos et a ceto fidelium segregandos hic et in eternum quam sepædictam cartulam scribendam dictavi et tibi pastor cui supra tradidi conservandam . His vero notissimis terminibus circumgirata est in aquilone puplica stratus in oriente ita est in meridie terra sancta Eanswi∂e in occidente dene tun . Actum est xvi . kalendus agusti indictione vii . anno regni nostri . iii . Signum manus Cenulfi regis . Signum manus ˘eodori episcopi . Signum manus Adriani abati . Ego Redun episcoupus. Piot . dux . consensi . Tiolf 'dux' . consensi . Cenelm filii regis . Biornhard minist'e'r . Eaheard diaconus .
   Page: Identifies Cynegyth (Cenegi∂a) as Queen and wife of King Cenulf (Coenwulf) Alive in 799, married in 799 or before. "King Cenulf along with my wife Cenegi∂a queen"
   
2. Title: Anglo-Saxons.net S 156
   Publication: Name: http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+156;
   Note: S 156 A.D. 799 (17 July). King Coenwulf and his wife Cynegyth to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 4 sulungs (aratra) at Giddinge and Wootton, Kent. Latin with bounds. Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church MSS: 1. BL Cotton Aug. ii. 96 (s. x or xi; BM Facs., iv. 7) 2. Canterbury, D. & C., Reg. A, 138v-139r (s. xiii) 3. Canterbury, D. & C., Reg. E, 40v-41r (s. xiii) 4. BL Stowe 853, 8rv (s. xvii) Printed: K 177 and vol. iii, p. 387; Thorpe, pp. 44-5; B 296. Comments: Bond 1878, p. 7, MS 1 10th- or 11th-century; Robinson 1919, p. 28, untrustworthy; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 14-15, 88, on place-names; Levison 1946, pp. 230, 249 n. 3, text is unreliable and seems to be a conflation of S 1610 and 15; Wright 1950, pp. 389-90, MS 1 is a palimpsest in an 11th-century hand; Chaplais 1968, p. 316 n. 8, 335-6, spurious, MS 1 perhaps 11th-century, discusses relationship with S 15 (= 1973, p. 64 n. 8, 86-7); Harrison 1976, p. 118; Scharer 1982 pp. 87-9, probably forged in early ninth century, discusses relationship with S 15, 160; Brooks 1984, pp. 102-3, spurious, may have been modelled on lost 7th-century charter covering same estates; Wormald 1985, p. 25, unreliable later copy, possibly genuine elements; Kelly, St Augustine's, pp. 155-7, spurious, probably modelled on S 15. Endorsements (s. xii): 'Cenulf rex . merciorum 'tempore' Theodori archiepiscopi . gedding and Wedetun . iiii . aratra', 'Kenulfus Rex dedit gedding et Wdetun Athelardo Archiepiscopo et familie . Anno dccc o.', 'latine . iiii .' - Athelardo Archiepiscopo and the date are a later addition. + In nomine domini Dei salvatoris nostri Jhesu Christi ego Cenulf rex una cum conjuge mea Cenegiða regina referentes gratias largitori bonorum domino Jhesu Christo qui dilatavit terminos nostros juxta paternam antiquitatem in commune pertractavimus aliquam partem terre nobis conlate ad vicem rependere ne ingrati Dei beneficiis videremur largitori nostro qua de re a presenti die et tempore tibi pastori et familie eclesie Christi Deoque dicte terram juris nostri que sita est in provintie Cantie que quondam apellata est Geddingc 7 Wudu tun aratrorum . iiii . contulimus in perpetuum posidendam et cum omnibus ad eandem pertinentibus pratis campis silvis pascuis et quicquit ad supradictam terram pertinet a quattuor partibus horientis occidentis aquilonis et meridie tuo husui et familie tue et remisionem delictis nostris ditionique subiciatis teneatis posideatis donetis commutetis venundetis vel quicquit exinde facere volueritis liberam abeatis potestatem successoresque vestri defendant in perpetuum numquam me eredesque mei contra hanc cartulam descriptionis nostre aliquando esse venturus ad cujus cumulum etiam confirmationis cispitem ujus supradicta terra super sanctam altare salvatoris posui et propria manu pro ignorantia literarum signum sancte crucis in ac cartula expressi set et Cenegiða idem fecit principesque mei ut pari modo propriis manibus facerent rogavi quorum nomina supter adnexa sunt si quis quod apsit contra anc cartulam a me factam ego eredes mei contraire presumserint noverint se a participatione corporis et sanguinis domini Jhesu Christi esse alienos et a ceto fidelium segregandos hic et in eternum quam sepædictam cartulam scribendam dictavi et tibi pastor cui supra tradidi conservandam . His vero notissimis terminibus circumgirata est in aquilone puplica stratus in oriente ita est in meridie terra sancta Eanswiðe in occidente dene tun . Actum est xvi . kalendus agusti indictione vii . anno regni nostri . iii . Signum manus Cenulfi regis . Signum manus Ðeodori episcopi . Signum manus Adriani abati . Ego Redun episcoupus. Piot . dux . consensi . Tiolf 'dux' . consensi . Cenelm filii regis . Biornhard minist'e'r . Eaheard diaconus .
   
3. Title: Coenwulf of Mercia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenwulf_of_Mercia#Family_and_succession;
   Note: Coenwulf (Old English: [ˈkøːnwuɫf]; also spelled Cenwulf, Kenulf, or Kenwulph; Latin: Coenulfus) was the King of Mercia from December 796 until his death in 821. He was a descendant of a sibling of King Penda, who had ruled Mercia in the middle of the 7th century. He succeeded Ecgfrith, the son of Offa; Ecgfrith only reigned for five months, and Coenwulf ascended the throne in the same year that Offa died. In the early years of Coenwulf's reign he had to deal with a revolt in Kent, which had been under Offa's control. Eadberht Præn returned from exile in Francia to claim the Kentish throne, and Coenwulf was forced to wait for papal support before he could intervene. When Pope Leo III agreed to anathematise Eadberht, Coenwulf invaded and retook the kingdom; Eadberht was taken prisoner, was blinded, and had his hands cut off. Coenwulf also appears to have lost control of the kingdom of East Anglia during the early part of his reign, as an independent coinage appears under King Eadwald. Coenwulf's coinage reappears in 805, indicating that the kingdom was again under Mercian control. Several campaigns of Coenwulf's against the Welsh are recorded, but only one conflict with Northumbria, in 801, though it is likely that Coenwulf continued to support the opponents of the Northumbrian king Eardwulf. Coenwulf came into conflict with Archbishop Wulfred of Canterbury over the issue of whether laypeople could control religious houses such as monasteries. The breakdown in the relationship between the two eventually reached the point where the archbishop was unable to exercise his duties for at least four years. A partial resolution was reached in 822 with Coenwulf's successor, King Ceolwulf, but it was not until about 826 that a final settlement was reached between Wulfred and Coenwulf's daughter, Cwoenthryth, who had been the main beneficiary of Coenwulf's grants of religious property. Coenwulf was succeeded by his brother, Ceolwulf; a post-Conquest legend claims that his son Cynehelm was murdered to gain the succession. Within two years Ceolwulf had been deposed, and the kingship passed permanently out of Coenwulf's family. Coenwulf was the last king of Mercia to exercise substantial dominance over other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Within a decade of his death, the rise of Wessex had begun under King Egbert, and Mercia never recovered its former position of power. Family and succession A charter of 799 records a wife of Coenwulf named Cynegyth; the charter is forged, but this detail is possibly accurate.[65][66] Ælfthryth is more reliably established as Coenwulf's wife, again from charter evidence; she is recorded on charters dated between 804 and 817.[67] Coenwulf's daughter, Cwoenthryth, survived him and inherited the monastery at Winchcombe which Coenwulf had established as part of the patrimony of his family.[68] Cwoenthryth subsequently was engaged in a long dispute with Archbishop Wulfred over her rights to the monastery.[41] Coenwulf also had a son, Cynehelm, who later became known as a saint, with a cult dating from at least the 970s.[69] According to Alfred the Great's biographer, the Welsh monk and bishop, Asser, Alfred's wife Ealhswith was descended from Coenwulf through her mother, Eadburh, though Asser does not say which of Coenwulf's children Eadburh descends from.[70] Coenwulf died in 821 at Basingwerk near Holywell, Flintshire, probably while making preparations for a campaign against the Welsh that took place under his brother and successor, Ceolwulf, the following year.[71] Coenwulf's body was moved to Winchcombe where it was buried in St Mary's Abbey[72] (later known as Winchcombe Abbey). A mid-11th-century source asserts that Cynehelm briefly succeeded to the throne while still a child and was then murdered by his tutor Æscberht at the behest of Cwoenthryth. This version of events "bristles with historical problems", according to one historian, and it is also possible that Cynehelm is to be identified with an ealdorman who is found witnessing charters earlier in Coenwulf's reign, and who appears to have died by about 812.[69][73] The opinion of historians is not unanimous on this point: Simon Keynes has suggested that the ealdorman is unlikely to be the same person as the prince and that Cynehelm therefore may well have survived to the end of his father's reign.[8] Regardless of interpretation of Cynehelm's legend, there does appear to have been dynastic discord early in Ceolwulf's reign: a document from 825 says that after the death of Coenwulf "much discord and innumerable disagreements arose between various kings, nobles, bishops and ministers of the Church of God on very many matters of secular business".[42] Coenwulf was the last of a series of Mercian kings, beginning with Penda in the early 7th century, to exercise dominance over most or all of southern England. In the years after his death, Mercia's position weakened, and the battle of Ellendun in 825 firmly established Egbert of Wessex as the dominant king south of the Humber.[74] The Anglo-Saxonist and historian John Blair has identified evidence that Coenwulf came to be venerated as a saint, at least by the 12th century, and included him in his 'Handlist of Anglo-Saxon Saints'. The evidence is that the king appears to have been honoured as a 'holy benefactor' [Blair] at Winchcombe Abbey in the 12th century, and that a relic of Sanctus Kenulfus appears in a 12th-century relic list from Peterborough Abbey.[75]
   
4. Title: CENWULF King of Mercia - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
   Publication: Name: https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLAND,%20AngloSaxon%20&%20Danish%20Kings.htm#_ftnref657;
   Note: Two brothers: 1. CENWULF (-Basingwerk, Flintshire 821, bur Winchcomb, Gloucestershire). He succeeded [his distant cousin] King Ecgfrith in 796 as CENWULF King of Mercia. Simeon of Durham records that "Coenuulf the father of St Kenelm" succeeded "Ecgfrith" as king of Mercia[657]. Kent revolted in 796, Eadberht "Præn" installing himself as king of Kent. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that King Cenwulf suppressed the rebellion vigorously, led Eadberht "Praen" bound back to Mercia[658], and appointed his younger brother Cuthred as under-king of Kent in 798. He failed to obtain papal support for establishing London as an archiepiscopal see. He revived Mercian expansion into Wales, killed Caradog ap Meirion King of Gwynedd in 798, and raided the district between Clwyd and the Elwy in 816 and Dyfed in 818-819. Eardwulf King of Northumbria invaded Mercia in 801, but peace was imposed following mediation of English bishops and nobles[659]. "Cenuulf rex merciorum" granted freedoms to Glastonbury Abbey by charter dated 797[660]. Mercian control over Kent, at least during the period 801-811, is demonstrated by "Coenuulfus rex Merciorum" making a joint grant of land in Kent with "Cuthredo fratre meo rege Cantuariorum" dated 801[661], "Coenulfi regis Merciorum" subscribing three charters of "Cuthredus rex Cantiæ" dated 805[662], and "Coenwulf rex Merciorum" granting land at Rochester, Kent to bishop Beornmod by charter dated 811 (subscribed by, among others, "Sigered rex", "Beornnoth dux" and "Eadberht dux", none of whom have been identified)[663]. A dispute with Wulfred Archbishop of Canterbury concerning the king's right to make certain religious appointments appears to have led to the former's suspension from office from 817 to 821[664]. [m firstly ---. The evident age difference between King Cenwulf's known children Cwenthryth and Cynehelm suggests that they were probably born from different marriages although this has not been corroborated from any primary source so far consulted.] m [secondly] ÆLTHRYTH, daughter of --- (-821 or after). "Æthrith/Ælbthryth regina" subscribed charters of King Cenwulf in 804 and 811, and "Eldredia regina" a charter dated 821[665]. King Cenwulf & his [first] wife had [two] children: a) CWENTHRYTH . William of Malmesbury names "Quendrida" as the older sister of St Kenelm, whom his father had entrusted to this sister for his education[666]. Roger of Wendover names "Quendridam et Burgenildam" as the daughters of "Kenulfus…[et[ regina sua Alfritha"[667]. As pointed out above, the age difference between Cwenthryth and her brother Cynehelm suggests that they may not have shared the same mother. "Quoenthryth filia regis" subscribed a charter of "Coenwulf rex Merciorum" dated 811[668]. She was appointed Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, by her father. William of Malmesbury states that she murdered her brother Cynehelm[669]. b) [BURGENILDA . Roger of Wendover names "Quendridam et Burgenildam" as the daughters of "Kenulfus…[et[ regina sua Alfritha"[670]. King Cenwulf & his [second] wife had [three] children: c) CYNEHELM [Kenelme] ([806/11]-murdered [821/22], bur [Winchcombe, Gloucestershire]). He is named as son of King Cenwulf by William of Malmesbury[671]. "Cynehelm dux" subscribed the charter of "Coenwulf rex Merciorum" dated 811[672]. Ingulph's Chronicle of the Abbey of Croyland records that "his son Saint Kenelm, a boy then seven years old" succeeded "Kenulph…king of the Mercians" but was murdered "through the treachery of his sister Quendreda" within a few months of the death of his father and buried beside his father[673], although his age must be underestimated in this source if he is the same person who subscribed the 811 charter of King Cenwulf. His paternity is corroborated by "Kenelmus filius regis" subscribing a charter of "Kenulfus rex Merciorum" dated 821[674]. William of Malmesbury states that he was brought up by his sister Cwenthryth, but that she ordered his murder[675]. Goscelin of Saint-Bertin wrote his biography Vita S. Kenelmi in the mid-1060s[676]. d) [EADBERHT . "Eadberht dux" subscribed the charter of "Coenwulf rex Merciorum" dated 811, his name listed directly after "Cynehelm dux" and before "Cyneberht propinquo regis"[677], which suggests a closer relationship to the king than "propinquo", possibly a younger son.] e) [EADBURGA. Asser records that Alfred's mother-in-law "Edburga of the royal line of Mercia…was a venerable lady and after the decease of her husband, she remained many years a widow, even till her own death"[678]. According to Weir[679], she was perhaps the daughter of Cenwulf King of Mercia but the basis for this speculation is not known. m ÆTHELRED "Mucil" Ealdorman of the Gainas [in Mercia].]
   Page: Does not identify her by name but identifies 2 wives of King Cenwulf, 1st wife not named, 2nd wife Æthryth. Identifies 2 children of Cenwulf and his 1st wife: Cwenthryth and Burgenilda