Kingdom of Cornwall

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The Kingdom of Cornwall or Kernow existed during the sub-Roman and Early Middle Ages in Britain's south-western peninsula.

1 Name
2 Status and character
3 Kings of Cornwall
4 Arthurian connection
5 Saxon dominion
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Name

Its name seems to derive from a Brythonic tribe called the Cornavii, whose existence is implied from the place-name Durocornavium (see Dumnonii) recorded in the Roman Ravenna Cosmography.

Kernow is the Cornish language name of Cornwall to this day, with cognates in Welsh Cernyw and Breton Kernev. (Kernev is also the Breton form of the region of Brittany known in French as Cornouaille.) Its Latin name is Cornubia, but it was known to the Anglo-Saxons of neighbouring Wessex as the kingdom of the West Welsh, later as Cornwall.

[edit] Status and character

Cornwall seems to have originally been part of the greater kingdom of Dumnonia. Although tradition seems to indicate that it had its own monarchs at times and may have been one of a number of sub-kingdoms. Some historians believe it was always independent of Dumnonia though. This was certainly the case after the majority of the latter kingdom fell under Anglo-Saxon control in the 8th century.

Cornwall was always largely un-Romanized and settlements continued in use into the post-Roman period. It is suggested that the kings were itinerant, stopping at various palaces, such as Tintagel, at different times of the year. Lesser lords built defended 'rounds' like Kelly Rounds and Castle Dore.

Cornwall is said^{[Please name specific person or group]} to have reverted to paganism after the Roman departure from Britain, or perhaps Christianity never reached these far-flung parts of the Empire. In the 5th and 6th centuries, however, the area was evangelised by the children of Brychan Brycheiniog and saints from Ireland. There was an important monastery at Bodmin and odd Cornish bishops are named in various records until they submitted to the See of Canterbury in the mid-9th century.

[edit] Kings of Cornwall

Cornish monarchs are recorded in a number of Old Welsh documents and Saints' Lives as well as in local and Arthurian tradition:

King Mark – of Tristan and Iseult fame, probably ruled in the late 5th century. According to Cornish folklore, he held court at Tintagel.
King Salomon – father of Saint Cybi, probably ruled after Mark.
King Dungarth – Traditionally the 'last king', said in Annales Cambriae to have drowned in 875.

Other 'kings' mentioned on memorial stones may have ruled more localised regions.

[edit] Arthurian connection

Geoffrey of Monmouth said that King Arthur was conceived at Tintagel Castle.
Geoffrey also said that Arthur’s final Battle of Camlann, was fought in Cornwall. Tradition points to Slaughter Bridge near Camelford.
Camelford is sometimes said to have been Camelot.

[edit] Saxon dominion

As a peninsula, Cornwall was protected from Anglo-Saxon land invasions until 814 when King Egbert of Wessex, having subdued Devon, moved on to "harry Cornwall". Clashes continued throughout the early 9th century and full-independence may have been lost after the Cornish defeat at Hingston Down in 838. The modern eastern border of the region was set at the River Tamar in 927 by King Athelstan and its kings subordinated to the rank of Earl. In 1066 the last native Earl of Cornwall, Earl Cadoc, was deposed by William the Conqueror.