There follows brief biographies of some well known 'Germanic' pagans of Anglo-Saxon England. Some you may of heard of before, others may be new to you, either way it is hoped you will find some interest in what is written here. This being Pendasfolc, Penda has his own page elsewhere on this site.
Hengest
One of the earliest sources for Hengest is the Venerable Bede who tells us that Hengest and his warriors were hired as mercenaries by the Celtic British King Vortigern to fight against the Pictish invaders, from what is now Scotland. Hengest was a Jutish leader, who eventually settled in the modern day County of Kent, and Isle of Wight in England. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gives a similar version of Hengest's arrival in Britain. Two old Englisc poems (The Fight at Finnsburg & Beowulf) mention a character called Hengest, an exile in King Hnæf of the Danes service, who leads his warriors against King Finn of Frisia. According to Gildas the Romano Britons were 'impatient at the assaults of the Scots and the Picts', he goes on to say 'they sealed their doom by inviting in among them like wolves into the sheep-fold'. Hengest and his men landed around Ebbsfleet in Kent in three keels (boats) and soon saw off the Picts and Scots. When Vortigern refuses to pay the agreed amount, Hengest encourages more Germanic warriors to settle in Britain, and then rebels against Vortigern. Hengest then establishes himself as Ruler in Kent. He is joined later by his son Æsc and a further sixteen keels of warriors, and strike out west. A peace treaty is offered and a meeting arranged where no weapons were to be taken. This is a trick and it is said that virtually all of the leading Romano British leaders are slain by Hengest and his warriors (the original 'night of the long knives'). A year later Vortigern is captured and burnt alive, the Romano British are driven back, some fleeing to northern Gaul, where they give their name to the region 'Brittany'. They appeal to the Roman commander Aetius stating 'the barbarians push us back to the sea, the sea pushes us back to the barbarians, between these two kinds of death, we are either drowned or slaughtered'.
Both Hengest & his brother Horsa were said to be the sons of the Jutish Chieftain Wihtgils, some legends say they were infact divine twins, as mentioned elsewhere on this site (Feorhcynn). The name Hengest means 'stallion', infact, even now the German & Dutch word 'Hengst', & Danish & Swedish word 'Hingst' are the words for stallion.
Horsa
Brother of Hengest who invaded Britain and founded the Jutish Kingdom of Kent. His name means 'Horse' or 'Stud', slain in battle against the Romano British.
Ælle
Sæx war chief and first King of the South Saxons (Sussex) from about 477 to 514. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Ælle and his three sons, Cymen, Wlencing & Cissa land with three ships at a place called Cymen's shore (around Selsey Bill), killing many Welsc. In 491 Ælle is victorious in battle over the Welsc at modern day Pevensey, slaughtering his opponents to the last man to honour Woden. Place names within Sussex suggest this area was one of the earliest conquests of the Saxons. Also according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Ælle was the first 'Bretwalda' (Britain-ruler), his death and who succeeded him as King of the South Saxons is unknown.
Cerdic
Another great Sæx war chief and first King of the West Saxons from 519 to 534, regarded as ancestor of all Kings of Wessex. Said, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, to of landed in Hampshire around Calshot Spit in the Solent, near Southampton, with his son Cynric. They fought a Celtic King called Natanleod in Wiltshire slaying him in 508. In 519 they gain a great victory over the Welsc at Charford (Cerdic's Ford), after which he is known as the King of the West Saxons (Wessex), he went on to conquer the Isle of wight.
Cynric
King of Wessex from 534 to 560. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle he was the son of Cerdic, or, according to other sources, the son of Creoda, Cerdic's son. He captured Searobyrig (Old Sarum near Salisbury) in 552, and with his son Ceawlin, defeated the Britons at Beranburh (Barbury Camp) in 556. If these dates are true it is unlikely the entries in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, stating his arrival in Britain with his father Cerdic are correct, making it more likely Cerdic was his Grandfather, and Creoda his father.
Ricberht
Led an anti-Christian uprising in East Anglia, slaying Eorpwald and driving Sigebert into Exile in 628, thereby returning the kingdom to it's pagan roots.
Sexred, Sæward & Sexbald
Brothers who overthrow Eadbald of Essex and drive out the christian missionaries in 616, returning Essex to paganism.
Cædwalla
Pagan King of West Saxons from 685 who conquered Kent & Sussex.
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