Frithuwold of Surrey

Frithuwald was a seventh century Anglo-Saxon ruler in Surrey, and perhaps also in modern Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, who is known from two surviving charters. He was a sub-king ruling under King Wulfhere of Mercia. According to late hagiographical materials, he was a brother-in-law of Wulfhere. The monks of Saint Peter's Minster, Chertsey, revered Frithuwald, whom they considered the founder of their monastery, as a saint.

Origins

While it has been argued that Frithuwald was a native ruler of Surrey, [ "It seems likely that we have here a native ruler", Fryde et al 1986.] the consensus view makes Frithuwald a Mercian or Middle Anglian appointed by Wulfhere to rule over Surrey. [Kirby, p. 115; Yorke, p. 47.] His charters state that he had one son, but do not name him. The "princeps" Frithuric who was active in Mercia in the reign of Wulfhere's brother and successor Æthelred is presumed to be a kinsman of Frithuwald, perhaps his son. [Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", pp. 105–106; Yorke, p. 47. Kirby, p. 115, presumes that Frithuric was Frithuwald's son.]

The twelfth century life of Saint Osgyth of Aylesbury states that Osgyth was the daughter of Wilburh, sister of King Wulfhere, and a certain King Fredeswald. As Fredeswald and Frithuwald are simply variant forms of the same name, if this Fredeswald did exist, "it can hardly be doubted that he was the same man as the sub-king of the Chertsey charter". [Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", p. 106.]

The possible "Frith" family may also have included the eighth century figues Saint Frithuswith, and Frithugyth, wife of King Æthelheard of Wessex. [Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", pp. 106–107; Yorke, p. 110. See also Blair, "Chertsey resting-place list", pp. 231–233, fig. 17.1 and table 1.]

Charters

Two charters issued by Frithuwald to Eorcenwald, Abbot of Saint Peter's Minster, Chertsey, and later Bishop of London, survive. The first, dated to between 672 and 674, grants 200 hides of lands at Chertsey and 5 at Thorpe, together with 10 hides in London, to St Peter's. [cite web|url=http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=1165 |title=S 1165 |accessdate=2007-10-06] The second, dated after 675 and before 693, grants multiple estates in modern Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, to Chertsey Minster. [cite web|url=http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=1181 |title=S 1181 |accessdate=2007-10-06] A spurious charter of King Wulfhere supposedly confirmed grants by Frithuwald to Chertsey, [cite web|url=http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=69 |title=S 69 |accessdate=2007-10-06] , while later forged charters attributed to Offa, [cite web|url=http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=27 |title=S 27 |accessdate=2007-10-06] and to Edgar, [cite web|url=http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=charter&id=752 |title=S 752 |accessdate=2007-10-06] claim to reconfirm Frithuwald's grants. [For further discussion of Frithuwald's charters and their context, see Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", pp. 97–105.]

Among the witnesses to Frithuwald's charters are three other sub-kings, perhaps ruling the Mercian client kingdoms near to Surrey. These kings are Osric, Wigheard, and Æthelwald. [Kirby, p. 115; Yorke, pp. 108 & 120. Yorke notes the possible link between Wigheard and the later Mercian "W-group" family represented by Wiglaf and Wigstan. One of these three is thought to be the ruler of the Sonningas—around Sonning in south-east Berkshire—see Kirby, p.116.]

Frithuwald's Surrey

The lands ruled by Frithuwald seemingly did not include all of the modern county of Surrey. However, his charters, while rich in geographical detail, do not describe the boundaries of his lands, only of the lands which Chertsey Minster was to receive. The core of these lay in the lands of the Woccingas, around modern Woking, bounded by an earthwork, the "Fullingadic", to the east. The lands beyond may have formed part of the Kingdom of Kent. [Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", passim.]

Frithuwald's lands were based around royal "vills"—estate centres—of which Woking was one. Godalming, the centre of the Godhelmingas, lay to the south. Frithuwald's charters were done at Thame, north of the Thames, on the boundary between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The legend of Saint Osgyth may associate him with Quarrendon. If Thame and Quarrendon formed part of Frithuwald's lands, then they extended over much of modern Berkshire. [Blair, "Frithuwold's kingdom", passim, especially pp. 105–107; Kirby, pp. 115–116.]

Notes

References

*
* Blair, John, "Frithuwold's kingdom and the origins of Surrey" in S. Bassett (ed.), "The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms." Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1989. ISBN 0-7185-1317-7
* Blair, John, "The Chertsey resting-place list and the enshrinement of Frithuwold" in S. Bassett (ed.), "The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms." Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1989. ISBN 0-7185-1317-7
* Fryde, E. B. and others, 1986. Handbook of British Chronology, 3rd edition
* Kirby, D.P., "The Earliest English Kings." London: Unwin Hyman, 1991. ISBN 0-04-445691-3
* Yorke, Barbara, "Kings and Kingdoms in Early Anglo-Saxon England." London: Seaby, 1990. ISBN 1-85264-027-8