List of monarchs of Sussex
This list of kings and ealdormen of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Sussex contains substantial gaps, and many of the dates from this time are unreliable. No authentic South Saxon king list or genealogy exists. Most kings are known only from charters, some of which are forgeries, so great care is required in assigning dates to the kings. The styles listed below are copied from the authentic charters that are available online.
Problems with the term "monarch"
To call these rulers "monarchs" is potentially misleading; Noðhelm reigned with two or three colleagues and Oslac with four. The locations of the lands granted in their charters indicate that they reigned jointly and that there was no division of territory. Such joint reigns can also be demonstrated for Hwicce, Essex, and Wessex. Indeed, “[t]here is nothing remarkable in the existence of two or even more contemporary kings in the same people in the seventh century. The ancient idea that royal dignity was a matter of birth rather than of territorial rule still survived at this date.”[1]
Kings and Ealdormen of the South Saxons
| Reign | Incumbent | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 477 to 491 or later | Ælle of Sussex | Possibly mythical | |
| ?Cissa | eponym of Chichester | ||
| fl. c. 660 to c.685 | Æðelwealh | Killed by Caedwalla; first king of Sussex to be baptized | |
| fl. c. 683? | Eadwulf | Ealdulfus dux Suthsax is listed as a witness to a possibly spurious charter, S.232, of Caedwalla endowing Wilfrid's monastery of Selsey c. 683. Probably represents Ealdwulf. | |
| fl. c. 683 to c.685? | Ecgwald | Ecwald, also Ecguald, a sub-king, is named in, or witnesses, possibly spurious charters, S.230 and S.232 , of Caedwalla endowing Wilfrid's monastery of Selsey c. 683 to 685. | |
| fl.685 | Berhthun | Ealdorman | |
| fl.685 | Andhun | Ealdorman | |
| Subject to Wessex (c.686 to 726) | |||
| fl.692 to 717 | Noðhelm (Nunna) |
Nothelmus rex Suthsax’ Nunna rex Sussax’ Nunna rex Suthsax’ |
jointly with Watt, Osric, and Æðelstan. |
| fl.692 to c.700 | Watt | Wattus rex | jointly with Noðhelm |
| fl. c.700 | Bryni | Bruny dux Suthsax' | Ealdorman under Noðhelm and Watt |
| fl. c.710 | ?Osric | Osricus | jointly with Noðhelm |
| fl.717 | Æðelstan | Athelstan rex | jointly with Noðhelm |
| fl. c.740 | Æðelberht | Ethelbertus rex Sussaxonum | a contemporary of Sigeferth |
| fl.760 to 772 | Osmund | Osmundus rex Osmund dux |
jointly with Oswald, Ælfwald, and Oslac |
| Subject to Mercia (771 to 825) | |||
| fl.772 | Oswald | Osuualdus dux Suðsax' | Ealdorman under Offa jointly with Osmund, Ælfwald, and Oslac |
| fl. c.765 to 772 | Oslac | Osiac rex Oslac dux |
jointly with Ealdwulf, Ælfwald, Oswald, and Osmund. |
| fl. c.765 to c.791 | Ealdwulf | Alduulf rex Aldwlfus dux Suthsaxonum Aldwlf dux Aldwlfus dux Suthsaxonum Ealdwlf |
jointly with Ælfwald and Oslac |
| fl. c.765 to 772 | Ælfwald | Ælhuuald rex Ælbuuald dux |
jointly with Ealdwulf, Oslac, Oswald, and Osmund |
| Subject to Wessex (from 825) | |||
| died 982 | Eadwine | Eaduuine dux | Ealdorman under Æðelræd Unræd |
In 825 the South Saxons submitted to Ecgberht.