Watt of Sussex
Watt was a South Saxon whose existence is attested by three charters that he witnessed, in the reign of Noðhelm, as Wattus Rex. He probably would have ruled between about AD 692 and 725 and there is some suggestion that he may have been King of the Hæstingas.[1]
Charter evidence
He witnessed a charter from Noðhelm in 692[2], without any indication of his territory, but it is likely that he reigned in Sussex, because he also witnessed (again as Wattus rex) an undated charter (but before about 705) by "Bruny dux Suthsax"[3] together with Nunna rex (Nunna being the short form of Noðhelm).
He is also listed as a witness (as Uuattus rex) of another charter, erroneously dated 775, which is believed to be a forgery.[4]
King of the Hæstingas
The historian C. T. Chevallier suggested that Watt may have ruled the Hæstingas, a tribe found in east Sussex around what is now Hastings, his explanation being that placenames with "Wat" or "What" in them, could be found in that area, but not in western Sussex. [5]However, this hypothesis has been largely rejected by other historians, who suggest that it is based on the misinterpretation of the place-name evidence."[6] However, Chevalliers suggestion that Watt may have been a sub-king to the South Saxons may be more plausible. [7]
See also
Notes
- ^ Searle. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles; p. 271
- ^ Miller, Sean. "S 45". http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+45. Retrieved 2008-01-08. "A.D. 692. Nothhelm (Nunna), king of Sussex, to Nothgyth, his sister; grant, in order to found a minster, of 33 hides (cassati) at Lidsey, Aldingbourne, Lenstedegate (? Westergate in Aldington) and (North) Mundham, Sussex. Latin."
- ^ Miller, Sean. "S 1173". http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+1173. Retrieved 2008-01-08. "c. A.D. 700. Bruny (Bryni), dux of Sussex, to Eadberht, abbot; grant of 4 hides (manentes) Highleigh, Sussex. Latin."
- ^ Miller, Sean. "S 43". http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=seek&query=S+43. Retrieved 2008-01-08. "A.D. 775 for c. 705 x c. 717. Nunna, king of Sussex, to Eadberht, bishop; grant of 20 hides (tributarii) at Hugabeorgum and Dene (probably East and West Dean near Chichester). Latin with English bounds."
- ^ Chevallier. The Frankish origin of the Hastings Tribe. pp. 56-62.
- ^ Kelly. Charters of Selsey. p.lxxix
- ^ Welch. Early Anglo-Saxon Sussex. p.34.
References
- Chevallier, C.T. (1966). SAC vol 104. The Frankish origin of the Hastings Tribe. Lewes, Sussex: SAC.
- Kelly, S.E (1998). Anglo-Saxon Charters VI: Charters of Selsey. OUP for the British Academy. ISBN 0-19-726175-2.
- Miller, Sean. "Anglo-Saxon Net: England c.450-1066 in a Nutshell". http://www.anglo-saxons.net. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- Searle, W.G. (1899). Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles. Cambridge University Press.
- Welch, Martin (1978). Peter Brandon. ed. The South Saxons: Early Anglo-Saxon Sussex. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 0850332400.