Queen Marcia

Queen Marcia was the mythical third queen regnant and a regent of the Britons, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth.^[1]

Mythical Account

Marcia became queen after the death of Guithelin (Welsh: Kyhylyn) and ruled as regent for her son, Sisillius II. In her youth, she was the Queen consort of Guithelin, the king of Britain. She was a noblewoman and knowledgeable in all the arts. Queen Marcia ruled Britain for about five years after Guithelin's death because their son was just seven years old at his father's death.^[2]

Queen Marcia was a learned woman who codified the Marcian Laws, the Lex Martiana. King Alfred the Great was later to translate the code into Old English as the basis of Mercian Laws, believing them to have been named after the much later Saxon kingdom of Mercia.^[2][1]

Sisillius (Welsh: Saessyllt), came to the throne in ca 358 BC on Queen Marcia's death.^[2][1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Monmouth, G. (Galfredus Monumetensis). History of the Kings of Britain. p. 101. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Cooper, B.. "History of the Early British Kings". http://ldolphin.org/cooper/ch5.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 

Preceded by Guithelin

Mythical British Kings

Succeeded by Sisillius II